What is Politics? The Activity and its Study

by Leftwich, Adrian

• ISBN13: 9780745630564
• ISBN10: 0745630561
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-09-03
• Publisher: Polity

Summary

What is politics? Is it a universal feature of all human societies, past and present? Is it tied to specific institutional arenas? Or is it found in all groups and organizations, large or small, formal or informal? This new textbook seeks to provide answers to these important questions. Starting with what it means to 'think politically', the book goes on to explore a wide range of meanings attributed to the concept of politics from a variety of perspectives and theoretical traditions. It offers succinct and coherent overviews by some of the foremost scholars in the field, and each invites the reader to see the activity of politics in a distinctive way. Topics covered include politics as a form of rule, feminist approaches to politics, Marxism and politics, the politics of human behaviour, environmental politics, politics as collective choice, and Islam and politics. Written with the new student in mind, this concise introduction to the study and activity of politics is essential reading for all those coming to the discipline for the first time.

Author Biography

Adrian Leftwich is a Senior Lecturer in Politics at the University of York.

Table of Contents

Preface
Adrian Leftwich	vii
The Contributors	xi
1 Thinking Politically: On the politics of Politics	1	(22)
Adrian Leftwich
2 Politics is About Governing	23	(18)
B. Guy Peters
3 Politics and the Exercise of Force	41	(12)
Peter P. Nicholson
4 Marxism and Politics	53	(14)
Alex Callinicos
5 Politics as a Form of Rule: Politics, Citizenship and Democracy	67	(19)
Bernard Crick
6 Politics as Collective Choice	86	(14)
Albert Weale
7 The Political Approach to Human Behaviour: People, Resources and Power	100	(19)
Adrian Leftwich
8 Politics Beyond Boundaries: A Feminist Perspective	119	(16)
Judith Squires
9 Political Philosophy and Politics	135	(12)
Adam Swift
10 Is there an Islamic Conception of Politics?	147	(19)
Salwa Ismail
11 Politics as Distorted Global Politics	166	(16)
Anthony McGrew
12 Politics as if Nature Mattered	182	(14)
Neil Carter
Index	196