DIRK BERG-SCHLOSSER is Professor of Political Science at Phillipps University in Marburg, Germany. He has taught at the Universities of Munich, Aachen, Nairobi, Augsburg, Eichstdtt and Marburg. His publications include Tradition and Change in Kenya; Political Stability and Development (with Rainer Siegler) and Political Culture in Germany (with Ralf Rytlewski). JEREMY MITCHELL is Lecturer in Government, The Open University. Previously Junior Research Fellow in Politics at Jesus College, Oxford.

• List of Maps List of Tables List of Figures Preface; D.Berg-Schlosser & J.Mitchell Foreword; J.Linz Notes on the Contributors Introduction; ; D.Berg-Schlosser & J.Mitchell Austria: From Compromise to Authoritarianism; P.Gerlich & D.Campbell Belgium: Crisis and Compromise; G.De Meur & D.Berg-Schlosser Czechoslovakia: External Crisis and Internal Compromise; J.Bradley Estonia: Crisis and 'Pre-Emptive' Authoritarianism; T.Varrak Finland: From Conflict to Compromise; L.Karvonen France: An Ambiguous Survival?; M.Dobry Germany: From Double Crisis to National Socialism; F.Arends & G.Kümmel Greece: Political Crisis and Authoritarian Takeover; A.Zink Hungary: Crisis and Pseudo-Democratic Compromise; G.Ilonszki Ireland; Democratic Stability Without Compromise; A.Zink Italy: Early Crisis and Fascist Takeover; M.Tarchi Netherlands: Early Compromise and Democratic Stability; F.Aarebrot Poland: From Post-War Crisis to Authoritarianism; J.Holzer Portugal: Crisis and Early Authoritarian Takeover; A.C.Pinto Romania: Crisis Without Compromise; S.Fischer-Galati Spain: The Double Breakdown; W.Bernecker Sweden: The Durable Compromise; U.Lindström United Kingdom; Stability and Compromise; J.Mitchell Conclusions and Perspectives; D.Berg-Schlosser & J.Mitchell Bibliography Index

'This is the first instalment of a brilliant new approach to an old topic, the political, social, and economic crisis of interwar Europe, which has long suffered from piecemeal and traditional historical treatment by a collection of country specialists. This work is based on systematic application of comparative method and qualitative analysis. Its results are in many respects quite surprising and contradict the picture we have received from earlier studies.' - Peter Merkl, Emeritus Professor of Politics, University of California, Santa Barbara '...a very important contribution to the existing literature.' - Giovanni Capoccia, e-Extreme