Political systems do not always fit neatly into rigid categories, and every political system is both unique and constantly in flux.
All classification is at best partial, temporary, and a simplification of reality.
When reality is oversimplified, however, key points are often overlooked, and the lifeblood is drained out of the study of politics. Comparison puts the emphasis on the inductive and intuitive sides of theory development. It allows the political scientist to compare the ways in which governments and nations respond to similar problems, and attempt to meet the needs and demands of their citizens. There are now over 170 recognized nation-states in the world. Two nations from the First World, two from the Second, and one from the Third have been chosen for study in this course, along with a brief examination of the United States.