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Political Science Today
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Political Science Today

First Edition
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August 2019 | 328 pages | CQ Press

 

“This is a solid textbook for an intro course... It follows different approaches in the discipline, going subfield by subfield from Political Theory to American Politics, Comparative, and IR. It has a strong introductory chapter that helps disentangle the relation between politics and political science.” —Manuel Balan, McGill University

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 students 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 students 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 their future career aspirations.


This title is accompanied by a complete teaching and learning package. Contact your SAGE representative to request a demo.

  • Digital Option / Courseware
    SAGE Vantage is an intuitive digital platform that delivers this text’s content and course materials in a learning experience that offers auto-graded assignments and interactive multimedia tools, all carefully designed to ignite student engagement and drive critical thinking. Built with you and your students in mind, it offers simple course set-up and enables students to better prepare for class.
    • Assignable Video with Assessment
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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

Supplements

Instructor Resources Site

edge.sagepub.com/whitmancobb

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LMS cartridge included with this title for use in Blackboard, Canvas, Brightspace by Desire2Learn (D2L), and Moodle

The LMS cartridge makes it easy to import this title’s instructor resources into your learning management system (LMS). These resources include:

  • Test banks
  • Editable chapter-specific PowerPoint® slides
  • Sample course syllabi
  • Lecture notes
  • All tables and figures from the textbook 
Don’t use an LMS platform?

You can still access all of the same online resources for this title via the password-protected Instructor Resource Site.

The open-access Student Study Site makes it easy for students to maximize their study time, anywhere, anytime. It offers flashcards that strengthen understanding of key terms and concepts, as well as learning objectives that reinforce the most important material.
Student Study Site

edge.sagepub.com/whitmancobb

 

The open-access Student Study Site makes it easy for students to maximize their study time, anywhere, anytime. It offers flashcards that strengthen understanding of key terms and concepts, as well as learning objectives that reinforce the most important material.

“This is a solid textbook for an intro course. . . . It follows different approaches in the discipline, going subfield by subfield from political theory to American politics, comparative, and IR. It has a strong introductory chapter that helps disentangle the relation between politics and political science.”

Manuel Balan
McGill University

“[Political Science Today] provides a straightforward, conventional, mainstream introduction to the contemporary discipline of political science. It is informative if not inspirational for students.”

John Zumbrunnen
University of Wisconsin, Madison

“A comprehensive yet easily understood textbook that brings together the study of government with an understanding of political science as a discipline.”

Marie A. Eisenstein
Indiana University Northwest

“It is accessible for students who have no background in the discipline, yet advanced enough that it does not overlook or ‘water down’ any pertinent information.”

Sterling Recker
North Central Missouri College
Key features
KEY FEATURES:
  • This text is available as a digital option through SAGE Vantage, an intuitive digital platform that offers auto-graded assignments and interactive multimedia tools—including video—all designed to enable students to better prepare for class.
  • An innovative organization reflects the reality of the discipline, beginning with foundational tools like theories and research methods, and then building up to subfield chapters covering overviews of Comparative Politics, International Relations, American Government, Political Economy, and Public Policy/Administration. 

  • Definitions of complex concepts simplify topics than can be difficult to understand. 

  • Additional readings at the end of every chapter encourage students to develop a deeper understanding of the topics discussed.  

  • Case studies throughout connect the material to real life events that students can use to explore issues in more detail.

  • Career insights offer students advice on potential career paths available that are related to the topics in the chapter. 

  • Critical thinking questions at the end of each chapter encourage students to process and apply the material in a way that is meaningful to their life.

  • SAGE coursepacks allows instructors to import high-quality content into their school’s learning management system (LMS) with no access codes.

  • SAGE edge provides students helpful tools, including flashcards, practice quizzes, and more, in one easy-to-use online environment. 
Vantage Reference: 
Political Science Today- Vantage Digital Option

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