Amazon.com description: Product Description: This guide covers 2000 political parties in all countries throughout the world. It contains historical and contemporary data and is not only a reference tool, but should prove a useful aid to a comparative understanding of the national politics of the world's independent states and dependent territories, especially since World War II. Information on parties is arranged alphabetically by country with addresses, leadership, history, orientation, structure, membership, publications and international affiliation. An introductory section for each country lists capital, population, gives details of the political system and information on current government and the most recent election. This edition highlights major trends such as the rise of parties based on Islamic fundamentalism, the growing importance of "green parties" and the impact on Communist parties of Glasnost.