Political Science Today
Published on 16. August 2019
Book
Paperback/Softback
328 pages
978-1-5443-3644-2 (ISBN)
Description
Political science has changed; the way students learn has changed; so too should the way it's taught. This is political science, today.
Political Science Today by Wendy Whitman Cobb gives you a holistic view of the subfields that make up political science by dedicating one chapter to each of the topics at the core of the discipline. Unlike denser texts on the market, Political Science Today uses a field-based approach that allows you to engage with the material directly and dig into each of the discipline's diverse subfields while also developing critical thinking skills, discerning the differences between politics and political science, conducting and consuming research, and broadening your future career aspirations.
The book's innovative table of contents begins with foundational tools like theories and research methods, then builds up to subfield chapters on Comparative Politics, International Relations, American Government, Political Economy, and Public Policy and Administration. Current case studies throughout the text provide a backdrop for engaging classroom discussions on topics such as President Trump's travel ban, ISIS as a state, and strengths and weaknesses of the United Nations. This unique approach provides short segments of topic coverage, plenty of summarizing content and review questions, as well as comprehensive learning objectives which will help you understand the realities of political science today.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Thousand Oaks
United States
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 191 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight
615 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5443-3644-2 (9781544336442)
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
Wendy N. Whitman Cobb is a professor at the US Air Force School of Advanced Air and Space Studies (SAASS) in Montgomery, Alabama. She earned her PhD in political science from the University of Florida following undergraduate work at the University of Central Florida. Her work focuses on institutions and public policy, particularly as it concerns space exploration policy. Before joining the faculty at SAASS, she was associate professor of political science at Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma. Previous books include Unbroken Government: Success and the Illusion of Failure in Policymaking, The Politics of Cancer: Malignant Indifference, and Privatizing Peace: How Commerce Can Reduce Conflict in Space.
Content
PREFACE
APPROACH TO THE BOOK
SUPPORT FOR INSTRUCTORS AND STUDENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
PART I: FOUNDATIONS
CHAPTER 1: WHAT IS POLITICAL SCIENCE?
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN POLITICS AND POLITICAL SCIENCE
HISTORY
IS POLITICAL SCIENCE A SCIENCE?
MAJOR CONCEPTS OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
PLAN OF THE BOOK
CHAPTER SUMMARY
CHAPTER 2: RESEARCH METHODS
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
QUANTITATIVE METHODS
QUALITATIVE METHODS
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE METHODS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE
CASE STUDY: DEMOCRACIES AND CONFLICT
CHAPTER SUMMARY
CHAPTER 3: POLITICAL THEORY
THE ANCIENTS TO THE ENLIGHTENMENT
THE ENLIGHTENMENT
CHALLENGES TO LIBERALISM
CONTEMPORARY PHILOSOPHY
THE STATE OF POLITICAL THEORY TODAY
CASE STUDY: JUSTICE AND TAXES
CHAPTER SUMMARY
PART II: INSTITUTIONS AND BEHAVIOR
CHAPTER 4: CONSTITUTIONS, LAW, AND JUSTICE
CHARACTERISTICS OF CONSTITUTIONS
SYSTEMS OF LAW
THE COURT SYSTEM
CASE STUDY: INTERNATIONAL LAW AND COURTS
CHAPTER SUMMARY
CHAPTER 5: ELECTORAL AND PARTY SYSTEMS
PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEMS
CASE STUDY: THE ITALIAN PARLIAMENT
PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEMS
CASE STUDY: FRANCE'S HYBRID SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT
POLITICAL PARTIES AND DUVERGER'S LAW
CHAPTER SUMMARY
CHAPTER 6: POLITICAL COMMUNICATIONS
ROLES OF THE MEDIA
SHAPING AND MAKING THE NEWS
MEDIA AROUND THE WORLD
CASE STUDY: MEDIA IN RUSSIA
THE INTERNET, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND DEMOCRACY
CHAPTER SUMMARY
PART III: SUBFIELDS
CHAPTER 7: AMERICAN POLITICS
CONGRESS
THE PRESIDENCY
THE COURTS
POLITICAL BEHAVIOR
CASE STUDY: THE TRUMP TRAVEL BAN
CHAPTER SUMMARY
CHAPTER 8: COMPARATIVE POLITICS
THE COMPARATIVE METHOD
THE STATE
CASE STUDY: IS ISIS A STATE?
DEMOCRACY
GLOBALIZATION
COMMUNISM AND POSTCOMMUNISM
AUTHORITARIANISM
DEVELOPMENT AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
CASE STUDY: INDIA
NATIONALISM AND ETHNIC CONFLICT
CASE STUDY: YEMEN
CHAPTER SUMMARY
CHAPTER 9: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
REALISM
LIBERALISM
CASE STUDY: STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THE UNITED NATIONS
CONSTRUCTIVISM
FEMINISM
WAR AND PEACE
CASE STUDY: THE UNITED STATES AND IRAQ
CHAPTER SUMMARY
CHAPTER 10: POLITICAL ECONOMY
WHAT DOES POLITICS HAVE TO DO WITH THE ECONOMY?
TYPES OF ECONOMIC SYSTEMS
CASE STUDY: GERMANY
GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT AND ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE
INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY
COMPARATIVE POLITICAL ECONOMY
CASE STUDY: DOES DEMOCRACY CAUSE CAPITALISM, OR DOES CAPITALISM CAUSE DEMOCRACY? THE CASE OF CHINA
CHAPTER SUMMARY
CHAPTER 11: PUBLIC POLICY AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
STAGES OF THE POLICYMAKING PROCESS
PATTERNS OF POLICY CHANGE
POLICY ACTORS AND TYPES OF POLICIES
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
CASE STUDY: GUNS, BUMP STOCKS, AND REGULATORY FIXES
CHAPTER SUMMARY
INDEX
APPROACH TO THE BOOK
SUPPORT FOR INSTRUCTORS AND STUDENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
PART I: FOUNDATIONS
CHAPTER 1: WHAT IS POLITICAL SCIENCE?
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN POLITICS AND POLITICAL SCIENCE
HISTORY
IS POLITICAL SCIENCE A SCIENCE?
MAJOR CONCEPTS OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
PLAN OF THE BOOK
CHAPTER SUMMARY
CHAPTER 2: RESEARCH METHODS
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
QUANTITATIVE METHODS
QUALITATIVE METHODS
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE METHODS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE
CASE STUDY: DEMOCRACIES AND CONFLICT
CHAPTER SUMMARY
CHAPTER 3: POLITICAL THEORY
THE ANCIENTS TO THE ENLIGHTENMENT
THE ENLIGHTENMENT
CHALLENGES TO LIBERALISM
CONTEMPORARY PHILOSOPHY
THE STATE OF POLITICAL THEORY TODAY
CASE STUDY: JUSTICE AND TAXES
CHAPTER SUMMARY
PART II: INSTITUTIONS AND BEHAVIOR
CHAPTER 4: CONSTITUTIONS, LAW, AND JUSTICE
CHARACTERISTICS OF CONSTITUTIONS
SYSTEMS OF LAW
THE COURT SYSTEM
CASE STUDY: INTERNATIONAL LAW AND COURTS
CHAPTER SUMMARY
CHAPTER 5: ELECTORAL AND PARTY SYSTEMS
PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEMS
CASE STUDY: THE ITALIAN PARLIAMENT
PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEMS
CASE STUDY: FRANCE'S HYBRID SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT
POLITICAL PARTIES AND DUVERGER'S LAW
CHAPTER SUMMARY
CHAPTER 6: POLITICAL COMMUNICATIONS
ROLES OF THE MEDIA
SHAPING AND MAKING THE NEWS
MEDIA AROUND THE WORLD
CASE STUDY: MEDIA IN RUSSIA
THE INTERNET, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND DEMOCRACY
CHAPTER SUMMARY
PART III: SUBFIELDS
CHAPTER 7: AMERICAN POLITICS
CONGRESS
THE PRESIDENCY
THE COURTS
POLITICAL BEHAVIOR
CASE STUDY: THE TRUMP TRAVEL BAN
CHAPTER SUMMARY
CHAPTER 8: COMPARATIVE POLITICS
THE COMPARATIVE METHOD
THE STATE
CASE STUDY: IS ISIS A STATE?
DEMOCRACY
GLOBALIZATION
COMMUNISM AND POSTCOMMUNISM
AUTHORITARIANISM
DEVELOPMENT AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
CASE STUDY: INDIA
NATIONALISM AND ETHNIC CONFLICT
CASE STUDY: YEMEN
CHAPTER SUMMARY
CHAPTER 9: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
REALISM
LIBERALISM
CASE STUDY: STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THE UNITED NATIONS
CONSTRUCTIVISM
FEMINISM
WAR AND PEACE
CASE STUDY: THE UNITED STATES AND IRAQ
CHAPTER SUMMARY
CHAPTER 10: POLITICAL ECONOMY
WHAT DOES POLITICS HAVE TO DO WITH THE ECONOMY?
TYPES OF ECONOMIC SYSTEMS
CASE STUDY: GERMANY
GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT AND ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE
INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY
COMPARATIVE POLITICAL ECONOMY
CASE STUDY: DOES DEMOCRACY CAUSE CAPITALISM, OR DOES CAPITALISM CAUSE DEMOCRACY? THE CASE OF CHINA
CHAPTER SUMMARY
CHAPTER 11: PUBLIC POLICY AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
STAGES OF THE POLICYMAKING PROCESS
PATTERNS OF POLICY CHANGE
POLICY ACTORS AND TYPES OF POLICIES
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
CASE STUDY: GUNS, BUMP STOCKS, AND REGULATORY FIXES
CHAPTER SUMMARY
INDEX