A comprehensive four-volume reference that examines the global struggle for representative government, tracing democracy's evolution from its origins in ancient Greece, and its variations throughout history, to its role in current political turmoil in nations such as South Africa, China, and the republics of the former Soviet Union. The Encyclopedia contains 417 alphabetically arranged, original, signed articles that range from 300 to 8,000 words and cover nearly all aspects of the subject. Included are biographies of over 100 statesmen and leaders; analyses of democracy's development in over 80 countries and regions; and essays on the processes and systems of representative government, democracy's impact on society, and its future. Includes numerous b&w illustrations, maps, and voting charts. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or. Read Less