Barium　strontium　titanate　(BST)　with　the　molar　formula　(Ba0.8Sr0.2TiO3)　has　been　prepared　by　two　different　processing　methods:　mixed-oxide　(BST-MO)　and　reaction-sintering　(BST-RS).　X-ray　powder　diffraction　study　shows　differences　in　grain　size　and　crystal　symmetry　for　both　these　ceramics.　The　former　shows　a　tetragonal　symmetry　while　the　latter　presents　a　cubic　symmetry.　The　occurrence　of　polar　micro-regions　associated　with　the　higher　chemical　non-homogeneous　distribution　of　ion　defects　from　the　influence　of　the　processing　parameters　is　the　main　reason　for　the　higher　peak　dielectric　constant　(K-m),　the　higher　remanent　polarization　(P-r),　the　higher　coercive　field　(E-c),　the　higher　peak　current　density　(J(m)),　and　the　lower　temperature　of　peak　dielectric　constant　(T-m)　in　BST-MO　ceramics.　(C)　2007　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.