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The eagerly awaited third edition of this highly respected and user-friendly text for introductory courses has been thoroughly updated to reflect the world today. Politics: An Introduction provides stimulating coverage of topics essential to the understanding of contemporary politics. It offers students necessary guidance on ways of studying and understanding politics, and illustration of the many different sites at which politics is construed and conducted. Ideal for students taking combined degrees at introductory level in politics and the social sciences, it emphasises the individual and social dimension of politics and covers theories and concepts in an accessible way. Fundamentally, it helps students see the political, and its relevance, in their lives.
Key features include:
a revised introduction considering 'what is politics' and how we understand and approach its study
clear and well-organised coverage of political theory, political behaviour, institutions and the policy process
carefully crafted in-text chapter features such as 'consider this' thought-provoking scenarios, 'think points', keyword definitions, chapter summaries, and exercises designed to enliven and extend the learning experience
stimulating, up-to-date examples and case studies from across the globe, such as 'fake news', online activism, the rise of populism, culture wars, 'fertility tourism' in India, hydropower in Cambodia, free speech in France, and personality politics in Turkmenistan
detailed consideration of democratisation, authoritarian regimes, direct democracy, gender critical perspectives, minority rights, global capitalism, social movements, radical political change, post-secularism, and challenges and changes brought by social media.
Politics: An Introduction is a broad-ranging, accessible, and essential guide for all students studying, or beginning to study, politics.
List of contents
Part I People and politics Chapter 1 The individual and politics: studying politics from the bottom-up Chapter 2 Individualism in thought and action Chapter 3 Political socialisation: learning about politics Chapter 4 Political culture Chapter 5 Political participation Part II Ideas and politics Chapter 6 Political thought Chapter 7 Political ideologies Chapter 8 Concepts and case studies Chapter 9 Democracy, authoritarianism, and the limits of democratisation Chapter 10 Political institutions and the machinery of government Chapter 11 Interests, influence, and the legitimisation of power Chapter 12 Discursive power – communication and politics Chapter 13 From ideas to policies to legislation Part IV Politics beyond the territorial state Chapter 14 Politics and governance beyond the nation-state Chapter 15 Globalisation and the global condition
About the author
Barrie Axford is a Professor of Politics at Oxford Brookes University, UK.
Victoria Browne is a Senior Lecturer in Politics at Oxford Brookes University, UK.
Richard Huggins is a Principal Lecturer in Social Sciences at Oxford Brookes University, UK.
Rico Isaacs is a Reader in Politics at Oxford Brookes University, UK.
Summary
The eagerly awaited 3rd edition of this highly respected and user-friendly text for introductory courses has been thoroughly updated to reflect the world today. Politics: An Introduction provides stimulating coverage of topics essential to the understanding of contemporary politics.
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