Political Science Today

Second Edition

Wendy N. Whitman Cobb - The United States Air Force School of Advanced Air and Space Studies

Available with:

Courses:
Introduction to Political Science | Introduction to Politics and International Relations

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 politics—affects 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.

Available Formats

ISBN: 9781071844564	Paperback	Suggested Retail Price: $142.00	Bookstore Price: $113.60
ISBN: 9781071844595	Electronic Version	Suggested Retail Price: $88.00	Bookstore Price: $70.40
ISBN: 9781071918173	Loose-leaf	Suggested Retail Price: $114.00	Bookstore Price: $91.20

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Preface

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Part I: Foundations

Chapter 1: What Is Political Science?

Chapter 2: Research Methods

Chapter 3: Political Theory

Part II: Institutions and Behavior

Chapter 4: Constitutions, Law, and Justice

Chapter 5: Electoral and Party Systems

Chapter 6: Political Communications

Chapter 7: Social Movements and Political Change

Part III: Subfields

Chapter 8: American Politics

Chapter 9: Comparative Politics

Chapter 10: International Relations

Chapter 11: Political Economy

Chapter 12: Public Policy and Public Administration

Glossary

Notes

Index

Supplements

Instructor Resources
For additional information, custom options, or to request a personalized walkthrough of these resources, please contact your sales representative.

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
Lecture notes
All tables and figures from the textbook

Don't use an LMS platform?

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

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.