3rd Edition
Politics An Introduction
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.
Part I People and politics
Chapter 1 The individual and politics: studying politics from the bottom-up Barrie Axford
Chapter 2 Individualism in thought and action Barrie Axford
Chapter 3 Political socialisation: learning about politics Rico Isaacs
Chapter 4 Political culture Rico Isaacs
Chapter 5 Political participation Barrie Axford
Mini case study 1: young people and politics
Mini case study 2: online activism
Mini case study 3: political participation in authoritarian regimes
Part II Ideas and politics
Chapter 6 Political thought Victoria Browne
Chapter 7 Political ideologies Victoria Browne
Chapter 8 Concepts and case studies Victoria Browne
Case study 1: freedom of expression in France
Case study 2: commercial surrogacy in India
Case study 3: hydropower in Cambodia
Case study 4: housing in London
Chapter 9 Democracy, authoritarianism, and the limits of democratisation Rico Isaacs
Chapter 10 Political institutions and the machinery of government Rico Isaacs
Chapter 11 Interests, influence, and the legitimisation of power Richard Huggins
Chapter 12 Discursive power – communication and politics Richard Huggins
Chapter 13 From ideas to policies to legislation Richard Huggins
Case study: evidence-based policy? The UK’s Psychoactive
Part IV Politics beyond the territorial state
Chapter 14 Politics and governance beyond the nation-state Barrie Axford
Chapter 15 Globalisation and the global condition Barrie Axford
Biography
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.
Praise for the previous edition:
'An immensely useful text; it should do well with undergraduates both at home and abroad.' - Bill Jones, Liverpool Hope University, UK.
'Let me express my unqualified enthusiasm for a comprehensive introductory text that really does succeed. It is challenging because it encourages students to think about issues and concepts in a fresh and analytically precise way. It is superior in range, style and accessibility.' - Robert Eccleshall, Queen's University Belfast, UK.Praise for this edition:
"This is one of the most original and innovative textbooks in the field. Without compromising on detail, it has put a lot of thought into guiding the reader through its vast range of subjects. It should be tremendously helpful for students of politics." - Mathias Albert, University of Bielefeld, Germany.
"This is a great book. Engaging and accessible, this invaluable text introduces students to the complexities of politics, as an activity and an area of study, in a lively and thought-provoking way. Wide ranging in scope, and retaining its theoretical and conceptual rigour, and this revised edition brings us up to date with contemporary political issues and debates." - Heather Savigny, De Montfort University, UK.