Grouping Political Systems: Q-Factor Analysis of A Cross-Polity Survey

Abstract

The authors report a Q-factor analysis of 115 nations and 68 variables for the grouping of nations on the basis of their political characteristics. Five factors emerge to distinguish major political groupings of the con temporary world: polarchy, elitism, centrism, personalism, and tradi tionalism. Professor Banks is coauthor with R. B. Textor of A Cross-Polity Survey. Phillip M. Gregg is a doctoral candidate in Political Science at Indiana University.