Part One of this volume contains essays on research methodology that are a tribute to Linz's work. Part Two focuses on the question of political identities, a topic that has gained relevance in a world that is increasingly segmented by overarching political and economic blocks. The essays in Part Three follow Linz's seminal work on authoritarianism and totalitarianism, while the chapters in Part Four reexamine his preoccupation with the transition to and consolidation of democracy.

The debate on parliamentarianism versus presidentialism lies at the heart of Part Five.

This is the second of four volumes compiled in honor of Juan J. Linz and edited by H. E. Chehabi, Richard Gunther, Alfred Stepan, and Arturo Valenzuela. Each volume presents original research and theoretical essays by Linz's distinguished collaborators, students, teachers, and friends as well as overviews of his enormous contributions to Spanish and Latin American studies, comparative politics, and sociology.