Human Polity : A Comparative Introduction to Political Science

This mainstream text for introductory political science course familiarizes students with the discipline by taking a comparative approach to topics such as the nature of politics, political institutions, behavior, and ideologies. The main theme of the text has shifted from a state-centered emphasis on interdependence to a broader look at globalization and the role of non-governmental actors, such as multinational corporations and transnational organizations like the U.N.

Note: Each chapter ends with a Summary and Conclusion.

I. The Work of Political Science in an Era of Globalization

1. Political Science in an Era of Globalization

The Human Polity
The Subjects of Political Science
The Work of Political Science

II. Shaping Political Thought

2. Political Ideologies

What Is an Ideology?
Is an "Ism" Always an Ideology?
Beyond Ideology

3. Politics and Culture

The Political Culture of the Nation-State
Culture Bases of Subnationalism
Impact of Cultural Divisiveness on the Nation-state: Yugoslavia and Canada
Explaining Commitment to a Subnational Group: Identity Theory
Cultural Dissemination of Political Values: Political Socialization

III. Acting in Politics

4. The Individual in Politics

Individual Motives for Participation in Politics
Measuring Motives
Modes of Individual Participation
Access: How Welcome Individual Participation?

5. Organizing for Politics: The Group

Interest Groups
A Special Problem of Interest Group Behavior: Extraconstitutionalism
Violent Revolutionary Organizations

6. Political Parties

Political Parties as a Unique Form of Political Organization
The Functions of Political Parties
The Origins of Political Parties
Party Organization
The Members of Parties
The Selection of Candidates
Preparing the Campaign
Executing the Campaign: Parties and the Media
Parties in Government
The Role of Parties Today

7. Acting in International Politics

Actors Shaping International Politics
Contemporary Issues International Conflicts
Actors Resolving International Conflicts

IV. Governing Nation States

8. Making the Laws

Lawmaking in the Legislature
The Relationship Between Legislative and Executive Power
Representation: Legislature and Constituents
Cameras, Committees, and Customs: Other Variations in Legislatures
Lawmaking by The Executive
Lawmaking by Judges
Rules with the Force of Law

9. Making Government Work: Executives and Bureaucrats

Becoming a Leader
Leaving Power
What Chief Executives Do
The Bureaucracy
Too Much Government? Or Too Little?
10. Public Policy
What Is a Public Policy?
What Determines What Public Policy Will be?
Public Policies Today

11. Justice Under the Law

What Is Justice?
Choosing Credible Judges
An Independent Judiciary: Theory and Practice
Guidelines for Adjudication: The Kinds of Laws
Regional Variations in the Rule of Law: Legal Cultures
Convergence of Legal Systems

12. Levels of Government within the States

The Nature of Subnational Government
Unitary, Federal, and Confederal Political Systems
Intermediate Level of Governments
Dilemmas of Subnationalilsm

V. Governing the World

13. International and Regional Government

The History andTypes of International Government
How International Relations Changed After World War II
The Contemporary International System
Regional Organizations
The United Nations

14. The Political Economics of Globalization

Prospects for Global Democracy
Kinds of Transitions
International Agents of Economic Globalization
Impact of Economic Globalization on National Economies