
What is Politics?
The Definitive Guide to Politics in Our Polarized Times
Colin Hay(Author)
Polity Press
1st Edition
Published on 10. October 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
336 pages
978-1-5095-5906-0 (ISBN)
Description
The definitive guide to politics in our polarized times
Politics is everywhere. It touches almost every aspect of our lives. And it is present wherever individuals face collective choices. It is hardly surprising, then, that politics so often divides us, above all in an age in which the collective choices we face seem more daunting and more consequential than they have perhaps ever been.
Exploring what it means to 'think politically' in these troubled times, this cutting-edge textbook reveals the many dimensions of politics. It does so by opening a series of analytic lenses through which we can make sense of politics and its impact upon societies and individuals. Each chapter, written by a leading scholar in the field, encourages us to view politics in a particular way, making a succinct and focused case for the insight this brings to our understanding of political practice, political behaviour, and political outcomes. Among the perspectives considered are politics as power, politics as moral choice, politics as identification, politics as ritual, politics as rhetoric, and politics as crisis management.
Written with the new student in mind, this probing introduction will be essential reading for all those who strive to make sense of politics in today's world.
Politics is everywhere. It touches almost every aspect of our lives. And it is present wherever individuals face collective choices. It is hardly surprising, then, that politics so often divides us, above all in an age in which the collective choices we face seem more daunting and more consequential than they have perhaps ever been.
Exploring what it means to 'think politically' in these troubled times, this cutting-edge textbook reveals the many dimensions of politics. It does so by opening a series of analytic lenses through which we can make sense of politics and its impact upon societies and individuals. Each chapter, written by a leading scholar in the field, encourages us to view politics in a particular way, making a succinct and focused case for the insight this brings to our understanding of political practice, political behaviour, and political outcomes. Among the perspectives considered are politics as power, politics as moral choice, politics as identification, politics as ritual, politics as rhetoric, and politics as crisis management.
Written with the new student in mind, this probing introduction will be essential reading for all those who strive to make sense of politics in today's world.
Reviews / Votes
"If you would like the chance to think about politics differently, this is the book for you. It offers a sparkling collection of essays that illuminate the practice of politics through multiple and often unconventional perspectives that should expand your thirst to understand and research politics in new ways."Gerry Stoker, University of Southampton
"Political scientists often struggle to explain what politics is, above and beyond what politicians do. Colin Hay's edited book, which gathers contributions from highly distinguished scholars of considerable intellectual diversity, makes it much easier for them to answer this genuinely difficult question."
Cecile Fabre, University of Oxford
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Publishing group
John Wiley and Sons Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 228 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 26 mm
Weight
484 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5095-5906-0 (9781509559060)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
12/2025
1st Edition
Wiley
€18.99
Available for download

Book
10/2025
1st Edition
Polity Press
€68.50
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
Colin Hay is Professor of Political Science at Sciences Po, Paris, and founding Director of the Sheffield Political Economy Research Institute (SPERI) at the University of Sheffield.
Content
Preface
About the contributors
1. What is politics?
Colin Hay
2. Politics as the exercise of power
Liam Stanley
3. Politics as moral choice
Jonathan Parry and Johanna Thoma
4. Politics as collective action
Albert Weale
5. Politics as behaviour
Will Jennings and Stuart J. Turnbull-Dugarte
6. Politics as identification
Vivienne Jabri
7. Politics as gendered
Johanna Kantola
8. Politics as institutionalised performance
Shirin M. Rai
9. Politics as cognition
Alyt Damstra and Paul 't Hart
10. Politics as ritual
Florence Faucher
11. Politics as rhetoric
Alan Finlayson
12. Politics as the history of the present
Andrew Hindmoor
13. Politics as crisis management
Matthew Paterson
Notes
References
Index
About the contributors
1. What is politics?
Colin Hay
2. Politics as the exercise of power
Liam Stanley
3. Politics as moral choice
Jonathan Parry and Johanna Thoma
4. Politics as collective action
Albert Weale
5. Politics as behaviour
Will Jennings and Stuart J. Turnbull-Dugarte
6. Politics as identification
Vivienne Jabri
7. Politics as gendered
Johanna Kantola
8. Politics as institutionalised performance
Shirin M. Rai
9. Politics as cognition
Alyt Damstra and Paul 't Hart
10. Politics as ritual
Florence Faucher
11. Politics as rhetoric
Alan Finlayson
12. Politics as the history of the present
Andrew Hindmoor
13. Politics as crisis management
Matthew Paterson
Notes
References
Index