"Providing a clear, comprehensive and colorful guide to how the world is governed both in theory and practice, The Book of Rule examines the governments of all the world's nations -- from major powers to the newest developing countries, from democracies to dictatorships -- and shows exactly how power is exercised in each. In addition to profiling national governments, The Book of Rule also explains the general principles behind today's political systems and charts the evolution of governments from ancient times to the present."