
Politics (Canadian Edition)
An Introduction to the Modern Democratic State, Third Edition
Larry Johnston(Author)
University of Toronto Press
3rd Edition
Published on 1. April 2007
Book
Paperback/Softback
277 pages
978-1-4426-0040-9 (ISBN)
Description
Politics offers a comprehensive, comparative, and interdisciplinary approach to the essential components of democratic politics in today's states. The book begins by addressing ways of thinking about politics, community, and society. Broad outlines of political theory are sketched; political ideas are treated by moving from an introduction, to political philosophers and their particular historical contexts, to the working out of their ideas in practical form as ideologies, and finally to the diffusion of political ideas within the culture of mass society. The institutions of constitutional government and the processes of electoral democracy are also covered.
A special effort has been made to explore alternative features such as proportional representation, multi-party systems, and coalition government, as well as the variations of presidentialism, federalism, and direct democracy. A section on the nature of governing examines the public policy process, the evolving role of the courts in interpreting and reviewing policy, and the economic and social policies associated with the welfare state and its dismantlement. The book concludes by critically considering the unique political and demographic situation of the world's liberal democracies and the privileged economic position they occupy in the face of globalization, modernization, and technological transformation.
Updated to reflect recent developments in North American elections and world events, Politics continues to provide students of political science with a foundation for future study within the discipline and the tools for a more informed practice of democratic citizenship.
Politics is accompanied by a free CD-ROM for instructors that contains test questions and answers for each chapter of the book (approximately 300 questions in total).
A special effort has been made to explore alternative features such as proportional representation, multi-party systems, and coalition government, as well as the variations of presidentialism, federalism, and direct democracy. A section on the nature of governing examines the public policy process, the evolving role of the courts in interpreting and reviewing policy, and the economic and social policies associated with the welfare state and its dismantlement. The book concludes by critically considering the unique political and demographic situation of the world's liberal democracies and the privileged economic position they occupy in the face of globalization, modernization, and technological transformation.
Updated to reflect recent developments in North American elections and world events, Politics continues to provide students of political science with a foundation for future study within the discipline and the tools for a more informed practice of democratic citizenship.
Politics is accompanied by a free CD-ROM for instructors that contains test questions and answers for each chapter of the book (approximately 300 questions in total).
More details
Edition
3rd New edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Toronto
Canada
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Edition type
New edition
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 180 mm
Thickness: 22 mm
Weight
700 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4426-0040-9 (9781442600409)
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
Person
Larry Johnston is the author of Ideologies: An Analytic and Conceptual Approach (1996) and Between Transcendence and Nihilism (1995). A legislative researcher in Toronto since 1998, he was an academic consultant to the Ontario Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform in 2006. He has taught a variety of politics courses at the University of Toronto, McMaster University, and Ryerson University.
Content
Preface
Part I: Getting Started
1. The Study of Politics and Its Objects
2. Methods and Approaches
3. The Emergence of Liberal Democracy
Part II: Ideas
4. Political Philosophy
5. Ideology
6. Political Culture
Part III: Institutions
7. The State: Functions, Institutions, Systems, Constitutions
8. Parliamentary Systems
9. Presidentialism
10. Federalism
Part IV: The Political Process
11. Democracy
12. Cleavages
13. Electoral Systems and Party Systems
14. Parties, Organized Groups, and Direct Democracy
Part V: Governing
15. Public Policy, Legislation, and the Bureaucracy
16. Justice, Law, and Politics
17. The Rise (and Fall) of the Welfare State
Part VI: Conclusion
18. Politics in a Global Context
Appendix A: The Canadian Constitution (Selections)
Appendix B: Canadian Federal Election Results, 1867-2006
Index
Part I: Getting Started
1. The Study of Politics and Its Objects
2. Methods and Approaches
3. The Emergence of Liberal Democracy
Part II: Ideas
4. Political Philosophy
5. Ideology
6. Political Culture
Part III: Institutions
7. The State: Functions, Institutions, Systems, Constitutions
8. Parliamentary Systems
9. Presidentialism
10. Federalism
Part IV: The Political Process
11. Democracy
12. Cleavages
13. Electoral Systems and Party Systems
14. Parties, Organized Groups, and Direct Democracy
Part V: Governing
15. Public Policy, Legislation, and the Bureaucracy
16. Justice, Law, and Politics
17. The Rise (and Fall) of the Welfare State
Part VI: Conclusion
18. Politics in a Global Context
Appendix A: The Canadian Constitution (Selections)
Appendix B: Canadian Federal Election Results, 1867-2006
Index