Political Science For Dummies
1. Edition October 2020
336 Pages, Softcover
Textbook
Further versions
Expand your political science knowledge with a book that explains concepts in a way anyone can understand!
The global political climate is dynamic, at times even volatile. To understand this evolving landscape, it's important to learn more about how countries are governed. Political Science For Dummies explores the questions that political scientists examine, such as how our leaders make decisions, who shapes political policy, and why countries go to war. The book is the perfect course supplement for students taking college-level, introductory political science courses. Political Science For Dummies is a guide that makes political science concepts easier to grasp.
* Get a better understanding of political ideologies, institutions, policies, processes, and behavior
* Explore topics such as class, government, diplomacy, law, strategy, and war
* Learn the specialized vocabulary within the field of political science
* Help prepare for a range of careers, from policy analyst to legislative assistant
Political science crosses into many other areas of study, such as sociology, economics, history, anthropology, international relations, law, statistics, and public policy. Those who want to understand the implications of changing political economies or how governing bodies work can look to Political Science For Dummies. It's the book thatcuts through the jargon as it focuses on issues that interest readers.
Part 1: Understanding Political Science 5
Chapter 1: Discovering the Discipline of Political Science 7
Chapter 2: Shaping Research in Political Science: Looking at Major Approaches 19
Chapter 3: Dealing with Political Culture 31
Part 2: Comparing Governments 47
Chapter 4: Discussing Different Forms of Government 49
Chapter 5: Setting the Rules: Constitutions 63
Chapter 6: Comparing Political Institutions: Systems of Government 79
Chapter 7: Elections, Political Parties, and Interest Groups 95
Part 3: Going Global: International Relations 113
Chapter 8: Thinking Globally: The Study of International Relations 115
Chapter 9: Creating Some Order: International Law and Diplomacy 131
Chapter 10: Creating Order through International Organizations 145
Chapter 11: Not Going to War: The Cold War 1946-1991 163
Chapter 12: Dealing with Political Violence: War and Terrorism 181
Chapter 13: Mixing Disciplines: International Political Economy 195
Part 4: Going from Classical to Modern Political Ideologies 215
Chapter 14: Starting in Greece: The Roots of Political Science 217
Chapter 15: Going Modern: Middle Ages to the Present 229
Chapter 16: Moving to the Right: Fascism, Neofascism, and Right-Wing Populism 251
Chapter 17: Going Left: Communism, Socialism, and Social Democracy 271
Part 5: The Part of Tens 287
Chapter 18: Ten Political Science Books Everyone Should Read 289
Chapter 19: Ten Modern Political Scientists 297
Index 303
