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Political Science Today
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Political Science Today

Second Edition
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June 2023 | 360 pages | CQ Press
Political Science Today by Wendy Whitman Cobb gives students a holistic view of political science by dedicating one chapter to each area of study within the discipline. The Second Edition uses a field-based approach that allows students to sample what the major has to offer and come away with a basic understanding of how politics—any kind of politicsaffects their everyday lives. The book also provides students with an overview of the skills and possibilities they'll encounter as majors, including developing critical thinking skills, conducting and consuming research, and understanding the unique career opportunities after graduation.

The book's 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.



 
Preface
 
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

 
 
Chapter 2: Research Methods
Questions and Answers

 
Quantitative Methods

 
Qualitative Methods

 
Quantitative and Qualitative Methods in Political Science

 
 
Chapter 3: Political Theory
The Ancients to the Enlightenment

 
The Enlightenment

 
Challenges to Liberalism

 
Contemporary Philosophy

 
The State of Political Theory Today

 
 
Part II: Institutions and Behavior
 
Chapter 4: Constitutions, Law, and Justice
Characteristics of Constitutions

 
Systems of Law

 
The Court System

 
 
Chapter 5: Electoral and Party Systems
Parliamentary Systems

 
Presidential Systems

 
Purpose of Political Parties

 
Duverger’s Law

 
 
Chapter 6: Political Communications
Roles of the Media

 
Shaping and Making the News

 
Media around the World

 
The Internet, Social Media, and Democracy

 
 
Chapter 7: Social Movements and Political Change
Social Movements

 
The Collective Action Problem

 
The Impact of Social Movements

 
Modern Social Movements

 
 
Part III: Subfields
 
Chapter 8: American Politics
Congress

 
The Presidency

 
The Courts

 
Political Behavior

 
 
Chapter 9: Comparative Politics
The Comparative Method

 
The State

 
Democracy

 
Globalization

 
Communism and Postcommunism

 
Authoritarianism

 
Development and Developing Countries

 
Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict

 
 
Chapter 10: International Relations
Origins of International Relations Theory

 
Realism

 
Liberalism

 
Constructivism

 
Feminism

 
War and Peace

 
 
Chapter 11: Political Economy
What Does Politics Have to Do with the Economy?

 
Types of Economic Systems

 
Government Involvement and Economic Performance

 
International Political Economy

 
Comparative Political Economy

 
 
Chapter 12: Public Policy and Public Administration
Stages of the Policymaking Process

 
Patterns of Policy Change

 
Policy Actors and Types of Policies

 
Public Administration

 
 
Glossary
 
Notes
 
Index
Key features
NEW TO THIS EDITION
  • The new edition is available in Sage Vantage, an intuitive learning platform that integrates quality Sage textbook content with assignable multimedia activities and auto-graded assessments to drive student engagement and ensure accountability. Unparalleled in its ease of use and built for dynamic teaching and learning, Vantage offers customizable LMS integration and best-in-class support.
  • The Second Edition has been updated to include a new chapter on social movements that highlights the many ways in which groups not only have difficulty in organizing and making change, but the many ways in which these changes can be made from outside the political system.
  • Students are drawn in with new chapter updates on events like Black Lives Matter, the COVID-19 pandemic, conflict in the American political system and the January 6th insurrection. These updates highlight the many ways in which politics and political science impact their everyday lives.
  • Chapter 2's discussion on research methods has been expanded to include the different types of variables, expose students to the basics of coding their own data, and help them understand directional relationships.
  • Chapter 3 on political theory includes new discussions on feminist theory and the recent discussions around critical race theory.
  • Chapter 6 on political communications has been revised to heavily focus on the impact of social media, misinformation, and disinformation.
  • Chapter 9 on comparative politics now includes updated and expanded discussions of globalization, including the changing role of the state, authoritarianism and democratic backsliding, and nationalism and ethnic conflict.
KEY FEATURES
  • 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.
  • Case studies in each chapter connect the material to real life events that students can use to explore issues in more detail. New case study topics include:
    • New explorations of mass incarceration and systemic racism in Chapter 4: Constitutions, Law, and Justice;
    • COVID-19 vaccine mandates in Chapter 8: American Politics;
    • Social media's role in Myanmar's ethnic cleansing in Chapter 9: Comparative Politics;
    • And the changing forms of warfare in Chapter 10: International Relations.
  • Know a Political Scientist features highlight prominent academics in the discipline. Care has been taken to provide students with a diverse range of theorists.
  • Career Guidance features offer students advice on potential career paths available throughout the subfields of political science.
  • Chapter Summaries, Discussion Questions, and For Further Reading sections at the end of every chapter encourage students to develop a deeper understanding of the topics discussed.
Vantage Reference: 
Political Science Today - Vantage Learning Platform

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