Politics, the Basics

by Tansey, Stephen D.

• ISBN13: 9780415303293
• ISBN10: 041530329X
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-07-02
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Summary

This book is a comprehensive introduction to the study of politics, political concepts and ideas, the varieties of political systems, the main political movements and the core issues which will dominate politics in the twenty-first century. The third edition has been fully updated to include the most significant recent developments in politics, including: globalization and the anti-globalization movement terrorism 'spin' and political marketing governance and public private partnerships the political role of the Internet. The range of international case studies has been expanded to include more material from Eastern Europe, newly industrialized countries and the developing world.

Author Biography

Stephen D. Tansey teaches politics and information systems at the University of Bournemouth.

Table of Contents

List of illustrations	xii
Preface	xiv
Acknowledgements	xviii
Politics
1 This chapter...
Politics in everyday life	1	(2)
What is politics?	3	(4)
Approaches to the study of politics	7	(2)
Traditional scholarship	9	(2)
Social science and politics	11	(3)
Schools of political science	14	(2)
Theories, models, paradigms	16	(2)
Radical and postmodernist criticism	18	(4)
Conclusion	22	(1)
Recommended reading	22	(2)
2 Systems	24	(23)
This chapter...	24	(1)
States and societies	24	(1)
Politics without the state: tribal societies	25	(4)
Feudalism	29	(2)
States without nations: kingdoms	31	(3)
States without nations: empires	34	(3)
Nations and states	37	(1)
The nation state and sovereignty	37	(1)
Politics between states	38	(2)
Politics beyond the state: international institutions	40	(1)
Multinational enterprises and 'globalisation'	41	(4)
Politics as a universal activity	45	(1)
Recommended reading	46	(1)
3 Concepts	47	(20)
This chapter...	47	(1)
Human nature and politics	47	(2)
Is the state necessary?	49	(2)
Why should I obey the state?	51	(2)
The nature of authority	53	(1)
What is justice?	54	(3)
Individualism versus collectivism	57	(1)
Rights: natural, human, legal	58	(1)
Equality	59	(3)
Positive and negative freedom	62	(1)
Analysing political concepts	63	(2)
Recommended reading	65	(2)
4 Ideologies	67	(35)
This chapter...	67	(1)
Ideology	68	(1)
'Right' versus 'left'	69	(3)
The old right: monarchism	72	(1)
The radical right: Nazism and fascism	73	(2)
Marxism	75	(1)
Leninism and Stalinism	76	(1)
Other Marxisms	77	(2)
Radicalism	79	(1)
Radical theism - Catholic, Protestant and Islamic	80	(3)
Ecology as political radicalism	83	(3)
Feminism as political radicalism	86	(2)
Liberalism	88	(3)
Conservatism	91	(2)
Thatcherism and neo-conservatism	93	(1)
Christian democracy	94	(2)
Socialism and social democracy	96	(2)
Communitarianism and the 'Third Way'	98	(2)
Recommended reading	100	(2)
5 Processes	102	(33)
This chapter...	102	(1)
Political identity	102	(2)
Political socialisation and political culture	104	(3)
Localism, nationalism, religion and ethnicity	107	(2)
Racial and ethnic conflict	109	(3)
Dominance, assimilation and social pluralism	112	(2)
Elites, classes and political pluralism	114	(3)
Political change	117	(2)
Coups del-at and revolutions	119	(2)
Terror and terrorism	121	(2)
Class conflict in the twenty-first century	123	(2)
Post-industrial politics: the information polity?	125	(4)
'North' versus 'South'?	129	(3)
Conclusion	132	(1)
Recommended reading	133	(2)
6 States	135	(34)
This chapter...	135	(1)
Types of state	135	(3)
Democracy, the welfare state and the market	138	(2)
Forms of representative democracy	140	(5)
Military autocracy	145	(2)
Civil autocracy	147	(2)
Totalitarian governments	149	(1)
Nazi government	150	(1)
Soviet government	151	(1)
Islamic government - breaking the mould?	152	(2)
Multi-level government	154	(4)
European political institutions	158	(5)
Local government	163	(4)
Conclusion	167	(1)
Recommended reading	168	(1)
7 Democracy	169	(35)
This chapter...	169	(1)
How can government be 'democratic'?	169	(1)
Participation and direct democracy	170	(2)
Choosing rulers	172	(1)
Electoral systems	173	(2)
The executive	175	(1)
The legislature	176	(2)
The judiciary	178	(3)
Constitutions and constitutionalism 18o
Rights and constitutions	181	(3)
Pluralist policy making	184	(1)
Corporatism	185	(1)
Centralisation	186	(2)
Political communication	188	(1)
Political parties	189	(3)
'Spin' and political marketing	192	(1)
Interest groups	193	(3)
The mass media	196	(4)
The Internet	200	(1)
Democracy and communication	201	(1)
Recommended reading	202	(2)
8 Policies	204	(30)
This chapter...	204	(1)
Public policy problems and solutions	204	(1)
The choice of social decision-making mechanisms	205	(1)
The case for the market	206	(2)
Problems of market decision making	208	(1)
Voluntary organisations	209	(3)
Rational policy making: bureaucracy	212	(2)
Problems with 'rational' policy making	214	(2)
Incremental decision making	216	(2)
The policy process	218	(1)
Implementing public policy	219	(3)
Managing local public policy	222	(1)
Multi-level governance	223	(2)
Evaluating public policy	225	(1)
Monitoring performance in public policy	226	(2)
Evaluating policy outcomes: the distribution of wealth and income	228	(3)
Taking political action	231	(1)
Recommended reading	232	(2)
Appendix: sources on politics	234	(10)
References	244	(13)
Index	257