Description
Book SynopsisWhen are legislators inclined to cast votes in cooperation with their parties, and when do they go their own way? When and why do nations contend with each other, and when are they more likely to cooperate? Thematically arranged around the interplay of contention and cooperation, A Comparative Introduction to Political Science encourages students to explore causal factors and consequences related to political phenomena to become knowledgeable and resourceful citizens of their nations and the world. Alan Smith covers how patterns of contention and cooperationand the resulting government policiesmay be affected by such factors as the surrounding political framework, the distribution of influence, and political motivation, including values as well as material interests. To expose students to the politics of specific nations, each chapter concludes with two country case studies that illuminate the theme of the chapter. Students emerge with a sense of what is going on in the world today.
Trade Review“Comfortable and accessible to a wide variety of students. . . . I very much enjoy the boxes and case studies. They allow for students to delve into specific instances at greater length, before circling back and tying them into the body of the text.” -- William T. Daniel, Francis Marion University
“Well organized, on point, and a good introduction to the topic of politics.” -- Laurie Sprankle, The Community College of Allegheny County, South
Table of ContentsPART I: THE BASICS OF POLITICS 1. Politics, Government, and Policy 2. Power and the Distribution of Influence 3. Political Science 4. Building the Contemporary Nation-State: Challenges and Responses PART II: NORMATIVE POLITICAL THOUGHT 5. Political Philosophies and Theories 6. Contemporary Ideologies PART III: SOCIETY AND POLITICS 7. Political Economy 8. Political Attitudes 9. Interest Groups 10. Political Parties 11. Voting and Elections PART IV: POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS 12. Legislative Assemblies 13. The Democratic Political Executive 14. Applying the Law: Public Administration and the Courts 15. Authoritarian Regimes and Revolution 16. Democratization PART V: INTERNATIONAL POLITICS 17. International Politics and Its Classic Models 18. Social Identity and Today’s Foreign Policy Challenges
