But there are limitations. The manuscript reflects the same quality of scholarship as the first two editions of the text (probably better). However, this manuscript has not been through the normal copyediting and formatting process of a professional press. Instructors might find it frustrating to see typos in their textbooks; students might find it refreshing to see how often a professor misspells words without a copyeditor to proof the work. And the html files were produced from basic website software, not a book typesetter with fancy formatting.

At the same time, the advantage of an online book is that it can be constantly updated. A chapter can be revised after a politician leaves office, or some event changes politics in a significant way--without having to reprint the entire book. Thus, you will note that each chapter is dated, and this is your guide on whether there is a more recent edition since you last downloaded a copy.

Consider this free copy a thank you to all the German scholars who have helped me write on German politics over the years, students who have taken my course and given me the motivation to update this material, and the future students who will learn the lessons of German politics from these pages. Vielen Dank!

copyright 2014
Russell J. Dalton
University of California, Irvine

Revised October 16, 2014