The Science of Politics

A broad, accessible, and rigorous overview of politics, The Science of Politics: An Introduction introduces students to the most substantive and important issues in the field. Josep M. Colomer takes a unique approach to the study of politics, addressing it from two points of departure: as a fundamental human activity to pursue the common interests of the members of a community (i.e., the "public good") and as the subject of systematic and reliable knowledge (i.e., science). This method helps to bridge a persistent gap between developments in research and actual teaching in the discipline. It provides students with the best possible foundation to build upon as they move into more advanced study in the field. FEATURES * Presents thirty principles that have been established through research over the years * Gives students the methodological tools to explore, study, and understand questions and issues that they may encounter * Discusses a variety of key issues including action, representation, government, and policy * Incorporates a number of pedagogical devices including summaries, key concepts, review questions, problems and applications, comparative case studies, and special features explaining classic research contributions

ISBN 0195397746   Pages 320 ISBN13 9780195397741 (What's this?)   Weight (grammes) 552 Publisher Oxford University Press Inc   Published in New York Imprint Oxford University Press Inc   Height (mm) 236 Format Paperback   Width (mm) 192 Publication date 16 Sep 2010   Spine width (mm) 14 DEWEY 320.01   Academic level Undergraduate, Postgraduate DEWEY edition DC22

		Introduction
		What is Politics?
		Why Science?
		The Book
		Some Things We Know: Thirty Propositions in Political Science
		I Action		1
1		The Public Good		3
		Public Goods		4
		Indivisibility		4
		Externalities		5
		Source 1.1: Private Goods and Public Goods		6
		Types Of Public Goods		7
		Club Goods		8
		The Commons		8
		Source 1.2: The Tragedy of the Commons		9
		The Politics Of Public Goods		10
		Redistribution Fights		11
		Box 1.1: Measuring Government Action		12
		The Growth of Public Expenditure		13
		Conclusion		14
		Summary		14
		Key Concepts		15
		Questions for Review		15
		Problems and Applications		16
2		Collective Action		17
		The Individual Logic		18
		The Collective Action Function		18
		Weighed Benefits and Costs		19
		The Free Rider		21
		Selective Incentives		21
		Case 2.1: Benefits and Costs of Voting		23
		More...

"I don't think that anyone has tried to write something like this before. If one wants to give an overview of political science, then this is about the only book there is!"--James A. Robinson, Harvard University

"At long last, a text that puts science back into political science; at the same time, it is not an 'American government and politics' text masquerading as an introduction to political science. I am delighted with it. The central concept of the 'public good' lends coherence to the organization of the book and allows Josep M. Colomer to integrate a vast amount of material encompassing all levels of analysis. The product is a remarkable achievement."--Abdalla Battah, Minnesota State University, Mankato

"The Science of Politics: An Introduction aims to do something that no other political science textbook currently does: to lay out the key 'things we know' about politics that satisfy the criteria of simplicity, practicality, and historical relevance. It is very well written, with an authoritative style that clearly demonstrates an impressive sweep of historical knowledge and understanding. . . . It has an analytical coherence which is consistent throughout the book, in line with the goal to be 'scientific'. This style completely distinguishes this text from others in the field and is a key selling point for students. I would recommend it to others without hesitation."--Helen Margetts, University of Oxford

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