Political science is a field of study which is especially eclectic in its use of terms, techniques and theories, which are drawn from the other social sciences, the natural sciences and from history, philosophy and law. The complexities and subtleties of its vocabulary can pose problems even for those familiar with the subject. This dictionary is a comprehensive guide to the current terminology of political analysis. It includes concise definitions of basic terms as well as longer entries where indicated by the complexity of the term. It indicates subtle, but often significant differences in words which are sometimes loosely used or even misused. The dictionary has an extensive cross-referencing system which enables the reader easily to identify associated terms.