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Customer Reviews (1)

South Asian perspectives
This is a well written book.It is both factual and concise.It would be suitable for both undergraduate and even graduate courses on South Asia as a broad based primer encompassing relevant political,economic and social facts about an increasingly important region which is host to a population creeping toward the 1.5 billion mark.Chapters on the smaller countries Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal which sometimes get overlooked because authors tend to concentrate on India-Pakistan issues, have been well presented.I would recommend this book to the general reader,as well as professors and their students attempting to build a base for specialization in South Asian studies.
S.Azmat Hassan ... Read more

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In the developed world, there is no longer an issue of whether the Internet affects politics--but how, why and with what consequences. With the Internet now spreading at a breathtaking rate in the developing world, the new medium is fraught with tensions, paradoxes, and contradictions. How do we make sense of these? In this major new work, Andrew Chadwick addresses such concerns, providing the first comprehensive overview of Internet politics.Internet Politics examines the impact of new communication technologies on political parties and elections, pressure groups, social movements, local democracy, public bureaucracies, and global governance. It also analyzes persistent and controversial policy problems, including the digital divide; the governance of the Internet itself; the tensions between surveillance, privacy and security; and the political economy of the Internet media sector. The approach is explicitly comparative, providing numerous examples from the U.S., Britain, and many other countries. Written in a clear and accessible style, this theoretically sophisticated and up-to-date text reveals the key difference the Internet makes in how we "do" politics and how we "think about" political life. Featuring numerous figures, tables, and text boxes, Internet Politics is ideal for undergraduate and graduate courses in political science, international relations, and communication studies. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

This book saved my life (or, at least, my thesis)...
For my undergraduate political science thesis, I had found a slew of books on the Internet and politics. But quite frankly, none of them compared in scope and depth to Chadwick's excellent volume; it was only until I found his book that I actually "got" the relationship between the Internet and democratic institutional design. It is at once academically rigorous and easy to understand, comprehensive in research and not overly bogged down in the minutiae. Highly recommended for students, technologists, and policymakers. ... Read more

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In a unique combination of journalism and military expertise, Gordon, the chief defense correspondent for The New York Times, and retired three-star general Bernard Trainor provide a definitive, behind-the-scenes account and analysis of the planning and execution of the Persian Gulf War. Photos & maps. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

A War that Went Right...Mostly
Michael R. Gordon, chief defense correspondent for the "New York Times," and Bernard E. Trainor, a retired Marine Corps Lieutenant General who was a reporter for the "Times" during the first Gulf War, have written an informed account of that conflict that is fascinating and often evocative of Operation: DESERT STORM.The central players in their drama are Generals Colin Powell and Norman Schwarzkopf.Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney plays an important supporting role.

Gordon and Trainor present Powell as an extremely reluctant warrior who puts the institutional interests of the military before the foreign policy of the United States.He was, according to them, terrified of a repeat of the Vietnam War, where the American people blamed the uniformed services for a war that went wrong.Schwarzkopf despite his "Stormin' Norman" reputation emerges as more bark than bite.He might have abused his own staff, but he led with a light hand.He knew he had to be diplomatic with the allies and make sure that each had an important role to play, even if it upset U.S. plans or complicated military operations.He also allowed each of the other U.S. armed services to develop their own battle plans.As a result, DESERT STORM was a loosely coordinated fight rather than a strongly multi-lateral joint operation.

The strengths of this study also its weaknesses.Gordon and Trainor are defense correspondents, and while they can and do use their contacts in the Department of Defense to great advantage, they have far few in the political realm, and it shows.Secretary of state James Baker and President George Bush are almost absent from this account.Although the central thesis of this book is that the civilian leadership abdicated responsibility to the generals--hence the title--the reader needs to take this argument with a certain amount of skepticism.Gordon and Trainor make no effort to examine U.S. foreign policy in the Persian Gulf or Middle East before this conflict, or its diplomatic impact.They also tend to exaggerate the influence of the media.Staff officers advance their plans over Schwarzkopf's objections by leading to the press and some generals owe their survival against enemies in the service due to their media coverage.Maybe, or maybe it was that they had good ideas and were competent commanders.

We could've lost this one!
So, you thought that the US really kicked butt during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm?I did -- until I read this book (required reading for a military studies course).What I had throught was a finely tuned, well oiled US political-military machine was a facade.Until reading this book, I never knew -- and thank goodness, neither (apparently) did Saddam Hussein or his cronies know -- how tenuous the early US military presence in Saudi Arabia was.I've heard it said that it's better to be lucky than good in battle; thankfully, the US forces were both lucky AND good in Desert Shield/Desert Storm.Read this book if you're interested in learning the un- (or under-) reported inside history of the Gulf War.

Good Reading For Any Desert Storm Vet
I was in the Persian Gulf (Saudi Arabia)in the U.S. Army, from October '90 to August '91 as part of Desert Shield/Storm.This was the first book I've read on the subject.The ground war was so short (100 hours), and was such an anti-climax after waiting months for something to happen, that I didn't feel any book would be very good reading.This book was very good, though not great.Very revealing.
The first part of the book leading up to the air campaign kind of dragged a bit at times.It was interesting to read about the preparations at the higher levels, and the in-fighting amongst the services.Saddam Hussein's blunders early on are explained very well.I had never heard of any of these arguments before. Had Saddam waited a few months more to invade Kuwait, the U.S. military would have been in the midst of a huge drawdown in personell, and we would have had even more problems coming up with the forces to act against him. (The draw down did happen, starting in late 1991 after all the units had returned.)
The book left me with a very negative view on Colin Powell.He was willing to leave 400,000 troops sitting in the desert (99% of us who would be living in tents) for over a year waiting for economic sanctions to work. Go to Death Valley and live in a tent, General!!!
Once the air campaign starts, the book reads like a Tom Clancy novel.Very riveting.
General Schwarzkopf comes off as an egotistical hothead, and a bit of a 'screw-up'. He fails to seriously heed intelligence on the poor morale and combat effectiveness of the Iraqi troops. There also seemed to be a lot of blundering getting the ground campaign off on the right track.
Schwarzkopf was also overly generous to the Iraqi's after thier defeat.He allowed them to fly helicopters, which they used to slaughter thousands who rose up against Saddam.
General McCaffrey, who commanded the 24th Mech Division, comes off as one of the Army's best generals. To bad he wasn't in charge of the whole operation.
After reading this book I realized that this was not such a great victory as advertised.Mainly due to a very political JCS Chairman (Powell), various other politicians, and an egotistical (Jonathan Winters look alike) General Schwarzkopf, who had his memoirs planned before it was all over.
The military acronyms used might be a problem for someone never in the military, but the authors do a good job of explaining them at the outset.
There is not to much 'high tech' mumbo jumbo either. The book flows decently.

The First Gulf War: A Necessary Corrective...
"The Generals' War", by correspondent Michael Gordon and retired General Bernard Trainor, is a well-researched historical account of the First Gulf War, with a focus on general officer-level decision-making.Published in 1995, the authors took full advantage of access to senior participants and declassified records to publish a necessary corrective to the triumphalism that immediately followed the end of hostilities in 1991.

DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM were the largest military operations conducted by the United States since the end of the Vietnam War.The operations were also a proving ground of modern weaponry and of doctrine for joint and coalition warfare.Shining a 20/20 hindsight spotlight, Gordon and Trainor found that the making of war was far messier than was advertised at the time.Rivalries between CENTCOM and the Washington Beltway hindered integrated planning, while joint conduct of the war suffered from the attempts of each of the services to carve out their own piece of the action.

The hype that accompanied the release of "The Generals' War" was a bit overdone.Few of Gordon's and Trainor's findings should be surprising to dedicated students of warfare, let alone to participants in the war itself.Wars are inherently political in planning.Execution is inherently messy and subject to all kinds of friction.For a national security structure with limited experience in the planning and conduct of war, the Bush Administration by and large did a very acceptable job.The point is well-taken that the Bush Adminstration might have done a better job of warning off Saddam from invading Kuwait prior to August 1990; it remains unknowable what if any actions might have produced different results.The point is also well-taken that the ground war was ended before the destruction of the Republican Guards, based on incomplete reporting from the battlefield.The service jostling for participation was inevitable, given the expectation that post-war budgeting would be based on wartime performance.That JCS Chief General Powell did a good job of deflecting these service pressures is to his credit.

"The Generals' War" is a very useful dissection of a complicated conflict, one that is a direct precusor to our current ways of conducting military operations.It is highly recommended to students of warfare as a detailed and generally balanced account.

Wrong Book
Bought this by mistake, thought it was a diffewrent one.Will read it sometime in the futre or donate it to local library. ... Read more

Product Description
Looking closely at relations between Muslims and their host countries, Abdulkader H. Sinno and an international group of scholars examine questions of political representation, identity politics, civil liberties, immigration, and security issues. While many have problematized Muslims in the West, this volume takes a unique stance by viewing Muslims as a normative, and even positive, influence in Western politics. Squarely political and transatlantic in scope, the essays in this collected work focus on Islam and Muslim citizens in Europe and the Americas since 9/11, the European bombings, and the recent riots in France. Main topics include Muslim political participation and activism, perceptions about Islam and politics, Western attitudes about Muslim visibility in the political arena, radicalization of Muslims in an age of apparent shrinking of civil liberties, and personal security in politically uneasy times. ... Read more

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This brief edition of the bestselling, full-length Introduction to Comparative Poliics uses the same key themes to frame the presentation of each country's politics, placing a strong emphasis on political economy. This edition's easy to read 8x10" format and two-color design features new pedagogy, such as a marginal glossary, while maintaining the essential material of the full text. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Does Not Include Nigeria
I ordered this book for my Advanced Placement Politics course. It is great text but does not include Nigeria? Very puzzling. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

Pathbreaking!!
Where should we shelve this book? Does it matter? Should it be in LAtin American Studies? Should it be in sociology? The people that auyero portraits with the skill of s craftman could not be Argentinean. They could be in every day New York at the kitchen soups, they could have lived in the old days of italian immigration. Rather that concentrating in names and places the aim of this book is to find the ways in which every day people make sense of their lifes while being in a situation of opression; to find the ways in which there could be resistance inside acts catalogues as domination and at the same time maintain the idea of domination intact. This book os a must for every person interested in Argentina, for every person interested in LAtin America, for every people ineterested in the sociological analysis of everyday life and political domination. Integrating theory and empiria, this book is a readable one, even though it doesn't run away from theory. As a grad student and an adjunct teacher myself, I think it could be a great undergrad and grad textbook.

Ethnography at its best!!
This is a truly outstanding work. Hardly anyone did the kind of fieldwork Auyero did, hardly anyone illuminates the way in which the poor in Argentina manage to solve their everyday survival problems and, in the process, become subordinated in a powerful domination network. I would recommend this book not only to those interested in Latin American politics but also to those who want to know what a theoretically-inspired ethnography looks like. ... Read more

Product Description
The only global, comparative text on women in politics, Women and Politics in a Global World, Second Edition, is a thorough examination of the impact of women on politics--and the impact of politics on women. Whereas most texts on this topic assume an American perspective, this unique text takes a cross-national, comparative approach to women and politics. Sarah L. Henderson and Alana S. Jeydel carefully consider women's participation in institutionalized politics, social protest, and nationalist, fundamentalist, and revolutionary movements.

To help break down the material and make it more accessible to students, the authors unify discussions of women's issues around four core areas:

* The assurance of women's safety and autonomy
* Reproductive rights and health care for mothers and children
* Equal access to employment and public resources including education, social services, and economic benefits
* Women's access to political institutions and positions of authority

They also explore women's rights in the broader context of international human rights and address issues confronting women in the world community, including economic development, war, and international law. In addition, the authors address the global explosion of women's activism in the post-World War II era. They illustrate the ways in which women are standing up not only for themselves but for other disempowered groups on behalf of equality, liberation, and better living conditions.

Designed for courses in women and politics, Women and Politics in a Global World, Second Edition, is also an ideal supplement for women's studies and comparative politics courses.

NEW TO THIS EDITION

* Updates all data to reflect recent global issues and new political developments
* Expands coverage of women's issues within Part III, featuring topics of high student interest
* Integrates new discussions of many women's issues, including international trafficking, the increasing incidence of female soldiers in civil conflicts, the reintegration of child soldiers after war, global migration, and the impact of structural adjustment policies on women's access to education
* Adds "Feature" boxes with profiles of individuals and organizations that have influenced women's issues
* Provides new end-of-chapter "For More Information" sections listing resources for further learning (relevant books, memoirs, diaries, and websites) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Good book for study & paper purpose
I purchased this for graduate class use. I haven't finished reading the whole book yet. But the chapters I have read so far are good. Talking about women's participation in political system, social movements, revolutionary movements. Also discussed sexual violence, globalization, etc.

Will be good for study&paper use. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Recommended, with a few caveats
Willy Lam has a masterful grasp of the Chinese political situation. He discusses everything from the Machiavellian manoevering of China's top leadership seldom discussed in the outside world, as well as the things that truly matter to the Chinese people - the farmers, the urban middle class, the migrant workers. His carefully crafted analysis sheds some real light into the political philosophy of Hu Jintao, and to a lesser extent, Wen Jiabao. His characature of Hu has stood the test of time even four years after the book's publication - China's leader is obsessed with political stability, lacks exposure to foreign ideas, but is a brilliant politician.

Lam is dead-on on much of his analysis, but you can tell throughout the book that he subtly pushes for Western-style political reforms, which clouds the otherwise impartial narrative that makes the book such a wonderful read. Especially after the onset of the Global Financial Crisis, I have come to question Lam's wisdom on China's political reform imperative. It also does not adequately explore some of the divisions between the Chinese leadership. Lam attributes much of China's recent power struggles to old-fashioned Jiang-era cronyism and factionalism rather than an bona fide differing views on policy, which I think was not given enough air time.

This book is a good read though, for anyone who wants to gain an understanding of what's in the heads of China's leaders and where the country is headed. Beware of the abundant use of Chinese terminology and otherwise esoteric contents that may not be accessible for your average reader.

Thoroughly researched volume based on impressive array of sources
This book and its author came highly recommended. At first, I was slightly put off with the journalistic/impressionistic style at times almost reading like a compilation of articles with some degree of repetition. I suppose this is the price you pay for the vast and impressive array of sources the book is based on. Patience is, however, highly rewarded as the following systematic conclusions gradually emerge from the very rich empirical material: The Hu/Wen leadership is aware of the downside risks of China's growth model to social instability and hence the party's 'mandate of heaven.' While needing to sustain fast growth to create some 25 million new jobs a year (!) to facilitate social stability, the party also needs to take account of the grievances of peasants dispossessed by land grabs by corrupt cadres and entrepreneurs and migrant workers exploited in the 'world factory' on China's eastern provinces; to address severe problems of pollution (= 8-12 % of GDP) and energy inefficiency; to supply education and public health services to vast segments of the population who have to forsake it for financial reasons and more generally to improve governance to the benefit of 'the masses' in order to remain in power learning from and emulating the longevity of other dominant parties in successful developmental states (Singapore and for a long time Japan and Taiwan) or even European social democratic parties.

However, the author with thought-provoking reference to China's earlier failure to follow the example of e.g. Meiji Japan sheds doubt on the party's ability to act 'out of the box' and implement the necessary reform breakthroughs to maintain social stability and preserve economic progress and thus avoid so-called Latin Americanisation. These reforms include allowing independent trade unions and farmer associations to give the vulnerable and potentially disruptive segments of society the means to self-defense and evolutionary self-improvement; creating an independent judiciary, prosecution and regulatory agencies (environment, financial supervision, state auditors, corporate governance etc.) and instituting elections up to county level to increase accountabililty and checks and balances to the crony and corrupt collusion between party cadres and entrepreneurs - a source of much resentment and disillusion among ordinary Chinese. The author interestingly highlights that China compares unfavorably with other Chinese development success stories in this respect (Singapore + Hong Kong and one could add Taiwan, Korea, and Japan). One senses here the inherent comparative disadvantage of a totalitarian political system relative to mere authoritarian or conservative states in gradually allowing at least a functional minimum of pluralistic representation of interests in society + checks and balances in the political system as means to ensuring social harmony and perpetuation of party rule (cf. the LDP in Japan) in spite of this being the bottom line of the leadership. This self-imposed handicap is all the more telling in view of the author's interesting revelation that the top leadership is perfectly aware that innovation in political and economic institutions was the key difference behind the rise of England and fall of Spain from superpower status in earlier centuries. Far from allowing a minimum of representation + checks and balances,however, the author portrays a seemingly nervous party increasing the pressure even on within the system grievances and reformists (to say nothing of the pressure on the exercise of fundamental freedoms).

In the arena of foreign relations results are better linked to the leadership being less ramshackled by political contradictions of its own creation. Successes include the conclusion of a free trade agreement with ASEAN so far winning the race for influence against a Japan handicapped by agricultural protectionism and laying the first building blocks of a Chinese sphere of influence in the (distant) future; progress towards mutual economic dependence with US; displacing the US as Japan's largest trading partner(including Hong Kong); securing supplies of technology from Europe and Russia (military); securing supplies of raw materials from Asia (100 billion US$ deal with Iran!;), Africa (Sudan, Angola, Gabon) and Latin America (Venezuela, Brazil); improved ties with India to counter upgraded US-India relations perceived as part of a US containment agenda(trade agreements with India on the horizon?); establishment in mid 2005 of a (somewhat obscure) "strategic triangular relationship" with Russia and India to boost economic, energy, high tech and diplomatic cooperation (concrete content supposedly to be fleshed out along the way); countering US influence in Central Asia together with Russia; and increased international standing and leverage playing the part of the honest broker over the North Korean nuclear issue.

Foreign relation challenges particularly in relation to the US stem from China's stance on Iran and Sudan, which one senses China could leverage to greater international influence and prestige along North Korean lines. Add to this well known trade and exchange rate issue. Failure to lift the EU arms embargo helped by the Taiwan related anti-secession law caused Beijing to forego access to high tech military and dual use products from EU countries which could have put immense pressure on US producers and administration to follow suit. Another significant failure is increased rivalry with Japan, which has strengthened defence links with US. The rivalry with Japan is compounded not only by nationalism - which the party in a tell-tale sign of the challenges it faces to maintain social order at times had to struggle to keep under control - but now also by access to essential raw materials, fast growing huge China being a full six times less energy efficient than Japan. A specific example of failure in this respect pertains to Japan's upper hand (so far) in the game for access to Siberian oil where Moscow deftly plays China and Japan against each other to exact maximum concessions.

The big question left by this book is: will China pull it off, gradually grow out of its problems relying on minimum functional solutions as the party leadership believes it can or will it be caught up by the inherent contradictions of its political set-up? I highly recommend this book.

Review from Radio Free Asia-
OK, here's the deal.I have NOT read this book.It is very new.However, I HAVE read articles on CNN.com by the author, and he is a very lucid and insightful analyst, with many contacts and lots of experience reporting on Chinese politics.He actually used to write for the South China Morning Post, Hong Kong's main English-language paper, but after the '97 Handover, Lam found himself writing too much on the fringe for editors who were looking for a more favorable look at China issues than Lam was willing to provide.I found this review on Radio Free Asia's website, and thought it was informative.

--Reviewed by RFA Executive Editor Dan Southerland

In late 2003, China's new president Hu Jintao made a speech celebrating the late Mao Zedong. He said not a word about Mao's disastrous mistakes.

According to author Willy Lam, this was a wake-up call for many Chinese intellectuals, who until then had regarded Hu as a reformer who would eventually open up China's political system.

"Given that even official party documents had faulted Mao for having made serious mistakes during the Cultural Revolution...a number of intellectuals in Beijing thought that Hu had gone too far," writes Lam in Chinese Politics in the Hu Jintao Era.

Since President Hu took control of China more than three years ago, China watchers have been debating his effectiveness, his ideological leanings, and his grip on power.

Although Hu's staying power is now proven, his effectiveness is still up for debate. And many are still puzzled over his ideology. What are his deepest convictions? How does his thinking compare with that of previous Chinese leaders?

Apart from Xinjiang party boss Wang Lequan, Hu and Wen were the only two cadres in the 25-member Politburo with substantial experience in the western provinces.

---Cautious conservative---

Lam resists indulging in wishful thinking about Hu. Instead, he has gathered abundant evidence that Hu is a cautious conservative unlikely to embark on the political reforms that Lam thinks are essential to China's long-term stability.

President Hu, Lam says, "does not believe that there is anything intrinsically wrong" with one-party, authoritarian rule.

Although Marxism has been discredited around the world, Hu still believes that it is a scientific system. And, in Lam's view, Hu is more a disciple of Mao than of the pragmatic Deng Xiaoping.

In foreign policy, Lam says, Hu has secured closer relations with Russia and tilted away from the United States.

To Lam it seems evident that Hu has been following ex-KGB officer Vladimir Putin's approach to muzzling dissent.

After the "color revolutions" in countries such as Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan in the first half of 2005, Hu "repeatedly warned" of the danger of dissident groups and nongovernmental organizations working with "anti-China forces abroad" to undermine communist party rule.

Under Hu, Beijing has tightened its grip over Tibet and Xinjiang. Hu's decision to elevate a political ally, Wang Lequan, party secretary of Xinjiang, to the Politburo, "seems to attest to the leadership's desire to maintain ironclad control over the resource-rich and trouble-prone autonomous region."

The high point for Hu among "liberal" intellectuals inside and outside the party came in the fall of 2002 when he fired China's health minister for covering up the SARS epidemic and seemed to promise more transparency regarding major issues.

---End of the honeymoon---

By early 2004, though, the honeymoon was over. The party began to crack down on newspapers and television stations that challenged party orthodoxy or dared to report on Chinese society's "dark side." Beijing also began more actively policing the Internet.

The authorities arrested or placed under surveillance dozens of pro-reform and pro-democracy editors, writers and "Net-dissidents." They also targeted lawyers who were defending farmers who had lost their land to unscrupulous local officials.

But Lam is no China basher. On the positive side, Lam points out that Hu appears to be more concerned about the problems of corruption, inefficient government, and the plight of ordinary people than Deng Xiaoping or Jiang Zemin ever were.

Hu's strategy, Lam says, is to position himself as a "people's president" and "a spokesman for the large number of Chinese who had lost out in the course of Deng Xiaoping's nearly three decades of reform and open-door policy."

Lam notes that both Hu and Premier Wen Jiabao have had real experience in dealing with the poorest Chinese. Early in their careers, the two worked in grassroots-level jobs in impoverished Gansu province.

"Apart from Xinjiang party boss Wang Lequan, Hu and Wen were the only two cadres in the 25-member Politburo with substantial experience in the western provinces" of China, Lam says. The other members of this supreme body had ties to Shanghai and other coastal cities.

And both Hu and Wen have proven so far to be more popular than ex-President Jiang Zemin, according to Lam.

A particular strength of Lam's book is that it touches on all aspects of Chinese life: The farmers, the workers, the military, and the newly rich sons and daughters of the Communist Party elite who have plunged into lucrative businesses.

This is a dense book, because Lam supports his conclusions with an incredible amount of detail. But it's also a must-read for those who care about China's rise and its meaning for us all. ... Read more

Product Description
The authors explore how Americans' levels of political knowledge have changed over the past 50 years, how such knowledge is distributed among different groups, and how it is used in political decision-making. Drawing on extensive survey data, they present compelling evidence for benefits of a politically informed citizenry--and the cost of one that is poorly and inequitably informed. 62 illustrations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Cliff Claven is not needed in America!!!!
This book is a very refreshing book on public opinion. Delli Carpiniprovides a different take on what Americans know. It was previously thought they know very little about politics, in effect that they were ignorant. It turns out that the typical citizen may not be as informed as a political scientist, but they know bits of what is going on, so they are not ignorant either. In effect, they get the big picture and most of the important details, but do not really sweat the small stuff. This means that they can handle most major decisions without needed to become a regular cliff claven on any topic because they know more about things than the elite think.

Why this book Matters
knowledge scales and political sophistication are key variables in social science studies that often are used without really thinking about what they mean or measure.This book provides insight into this problem and real solutions to solve it, in addition to the primary context of how informed americans are about politics.Great work and a must have for any collection.

Who Knows What and Why
Anyone interested in the knowledge levels of the American public, especially in terms of political opinions and where that type of knowledge comes from, will find this book very informative and rewarding. Delli Carpini and Keeter have accumulated a very well researched and documented mass of data concerning what the American people know about many different categories of politics. In an enlightening fashion they break down political knowledge not just into different categories of information, but also by demographic categories in the general population. We find that socio-economic status is as important to political knowledge levels as personal interest or media exposure, leading to occasionally worrisome conclusions about how average people can truly make a difference.

This book does sometimes lapse into unnecessarily complex statistical models rife with under-explained regression analyses and coefficients (which should have been relegated to the Appendix section), while the writing style tends to be repetitive and is generally very verbose. Meanwhile, the conclusive analysis of "why it matters" is a bit rushed at the end of the book. But regardless of those issues, this book shows convincingly that the American public's knowledge of their own nation's politics is both more complex than may be expected, but that their knowledge is not always put to the most effective uses. Happily, the authors show that citizens typically do not consign political perceptions into simplistic liberal vs. conservative and black-and-white ideologies, as you may guess from the behavior of politicians and the media. However, we can also see here that the knowledge of the American masses is not frequently put to the best of uses, either by themselves or their leaders. [~doomsdayer520~]

an important book
*What Americans Know About Politics and Why It Matters* is an important book in that it reveals how informed voters have more stable, consistent opinions and are much more resistant to irrelevant information (such as commentary in the media and campaign rhetoric, sound bites, and photo ops). It also reveals that informed voters hold opinions that more closely match those of the Founders of the United States -- including personal responsibility and limited federal powers -- than do those who are ignorant of the issues.

Revealing
I thought it showed the ignorance of the American voter, and the dire need for voter education.In my opinion, the average American urgently needs voter education.I believe that voter education will produce a Democraticmajority, and this book gave me data to back up my beliefs. ... Read more

Product Description

In an election year that has defied expectations, scuttled predictions, and demonstrated that “politics as usual” is often anything but, a distinctive new textbook publishes that helps students make sense of our politics and government.

This engaging new book’s unique approach emphasizes and explores causal questions in American politics.  It gives student critical thinking tools–tools pulled directly from a social scientist’s playbook–to start answering those questions, see past today’s headlines, and understand why things really happen in our political world.

In a clear, straightforward style brimming with rich, real world examples, this exciting new text not only covers the fundamentals of American government and politics in a highly accessible, engaging fashion, it arms readers with the tools to separate political fact from fiction.  Using this book, readers will develop the skills to see through the simplistic sound bites and partisan assertions they’re subjected to by the pundits and politicians.

Students reading this text will be fitted with armor against the partisan bickering and hyperbolic media coverage that causes so many of them to become cynical about politics.  They will come away from the text not only excited by political questions, but with the means to explore possible answers as more thoughtful, critical, and empowered citizens.

Customer Reviews (4)

Book review
Book was in good condiion. i thought it was going to come with the cd. But it didnt so i had to buy the cd seperate. But other than that everything else was good.

Standard organization--but some interesting twists
In terms of how it is organized, this is a standard textbook. Chapters cover the usual subjects: political culture, the Constitution, federalism, civil rights and civil liberties, public opinion, political participation, voting and elections, media and politics, political parties, interest groups, Congress, the presidency, federal courts, bureaucracy, economic and social policy, foreign policy, state and local governments. So, the usual suspects as chapter headings.

However, the book does have some interesting twists that are worth noting. The Preface (pages xxi-xxx) lays out those features. At one point, the authors observe (Page xxi): ". . .we emphasize the importance of understanding the actual causal factors behind political developments, and we help students distinguish between correlation and causation. . . ." In short, they want students to think in terms of "what causes what." The authors also want students to learn how to think critically. Each chapter starts with a vignette to generate interest from students and begin to get them thinking about the subject. For instance, Chapter 1 ("Thinking about American Politics") begins with the story of Sarah Palin's campaign for the vice-presidency. The second chapter ("Political Culture") begins with a discussion of the abortion issue, to illustrate the role of religion in politics. Other characteristics of the text: there are brief sidebar comments comparing the American system with those of other countries; there are sidebars on "thinking about causality," trying to get students to ask why things happen as they do (e.g., "If national political culture is so important, why do we see variations across the states in party strength, public opinion, and laws?" [Page 43]).

There are also case studies, to exemplify points in the text. For example, "Did motor voter work?" explores the effect of the motor voter law on voter registration and actual voting turnout. There is yet another feature: "How do we know?"Illustrations: "Is white opposition to affirmative action racist?" and "Can surveys accurately gauge the opinions of almost 300 million Americans?"

I have taught American Politics numerous times. I would consider using this text were I to teach that course again. A standard book in organization, but one with some interesting twists that would probably help generate classroom discussion and engage students a bit better than more traditional texts.

Lost in the mail!
I ordered this book, paid for expedited shipping, and the supplier shipped it out right away.The post office, however, never delivered the book to my mailbox.It was not insured so I have to purchase another one.So much for a good deal on the textbook.

Great book, good condition
This book is a great introduction to American government/politics... each chapter includes recent events which help to put the concept of the chapter in context with what is occurring now. Easy to read, good pictures, nice case studies each chapter. ... Read more

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The politics of the internet has entered the social science mainstream. From debates about its impact on parties and election campaigns following momentous presidential contests in the United States, to concerns over international security, privacy and surveillance in the post-9/11, post-7/7 environment; from the rise of blogging as a threat to the traditional model of journalism, to controversies at the international level over how and if the internet should be governed by an entity such as the United Nations; from the new repertoires of collective action open to citizens, to the massive programs of public management reform taking place in the name of e-government, internet politics and policy are continually in the headlines.

The Routledge Handbook of Internet Politics is a collection of over thirty chapters dealing with the most significant scholarly debates in this rapidly growing field of study. Organized in four broad sections: Institutions, Behavior, Identities, and Law and Policy, the Handbook summarizes and criticizes contemporary debates while pointing out new departures. A comprehensive set of resources, it provides linkages to established theories of media and politics, political communication, governance, deliberative democracy and social movements, all within an interdisciplinary context. The contributors form a strong international cast of established and junior scholars.

This is the first publication of its kind in this field; a helpful companion to students and scholars of politics, international relations, communication studies and sociology.

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Contemporary Chinese Politics: Sources, Methods, and Field Strategies considers how new and diverse sources and methods are changing the study of Chinese politics. Contributors spanning three generations in China studies place their distinct qualitative and quantitative methodological approaches in the framework of the discipline and point to challenges or opportunities (or both) of adapting new sources and methods to the study of contemporary China. How can we more effectively use new sources and methods of data collection? How can we better integrate the study of Chinese politics into the discipline of political science, to the betterment of both? How can we more appropriately manage the logistical and ethical problems of doing political research in the challenging Chinese environment? In addressing these questions, this comprehensive methodological survey will be of immense interest to graduate students heading into the field for the first time and experienced scholars looking to keep abreast of the state of the art in the study of Chinese politics. ... Read more

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The study of politics seems endlessly beset by debates about method. At the core of these debates is a single unifying concern: should political scientists view themselves primarily as scientists, developing ever more sophisticated tools and studying only those phenomena to which such tools may fruitfully be applied? Or should they instead try to illuminate the large, complicated, untidy problems thrown up in the world, even if the chance to offer definitive explanations is low? Is there necessarily a tension between these two endeavours? Are some domains of political inquiry more amenable to the building up of reliable, scientific knowledge than others, and if so, how should we deploy our efforts? In this book, some of the world's most prominent students of politics offer original discussions of these pressing questions, eschewing narrow methodological diatribes to explore what political science is and how political scientists should aspire to do their work. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Very good design, middling execution
I assigned this text for my comparative politics course because I've been very dissatisfied with the way comparative politics texts are generally designed.Most focus either on concepts and theories or on "cases", where the cases amount to a chapter-length discussion of the entire political history of some country.Instructors generally have to combine both books, and never have enough time to get through all of them.Students are also stuck learning a lot of historical facts that aren't directly related to the core concepts of comparative politics (E.g. "What was the name of the dynasty ruling China in 500 BCE?").What is needed is a text that teaches the concepts while applying them to short, focused cases (where the cases are events, regimes, political figures or organizations, not whole countries), making all kinds of comparisons along the way.

That's what the Drogus and Orvis text does.A lot of the cases are great, with some from smaller less "important" countries (like Tanzania, the Philippines, and South Korea).Several of the conceptual chapters are also high-quality.The chapters on the state, the varieties of democracy, and on political institutions are the best I think; in general the discussions of political economy are the weakest and are overly narrow.There are also some glaring factual mistakes and bad charts.For example on p. 330 there's a meaningless chart which purports to show that Iran actually scores better on democracy and human development than the Middle East average.A small distinction if deserved, but the info in the chart actually doesn't support the claim.In the political economy section as well I found that some claims were outdated or just wrong (e.g. saying that Brazil's "recent" economic growth has been weak).

When my students shell out $80 for a text, I want them to trust the information presented, and I hope some of them keep the book for reference.But when publishers don't do a thorough job of fact-checking (and even basic copy editing) you can hardly blame students and teachers from feeling ripped off.This is not to pick on this text or specifically on CQ.This is a problem with many textbook publishers.I'll keep using this text, but I'll hope later editions are better.

Great service
My book was delivered promptly and in excellent condition. (still in the plastic wrap, no marks at all).

Very informative in an interesting way
This book gives great perspectives on comparative politics. Overall I'd say this is the best book for a comparative politics class. ... Read more

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Students are often hesitant to become involved in the political process, but American Government and Politics Today 2009-2010 Edition, 14e inspires readers to take action. The book uses intriguing examples and hands-on exercises to engage readers in the fascinating intricacies of American government -- including details from the recent presidential election. As it introduces concepts, it illustrates that active participation can be as simple as calling a local politician to share an opinion, registering to vote, or viewing a town council meeting on local access cable -- demonstrating how small steps can make a big difference. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

wrong book
Received book.Found out it was "Texas Edition" which is not what I needed. Called seller to get a refund,he never called back.I would not buy anything else from him since he is not credible.

False Pretenses
The book I recieved was a teacher's edition for review. However, the seller listed the teacher book with the same ISBN number as the student book. It clearly states on the book I recieved that resale of the teacher review book is illegal as it leads to higher textbook costs for students. So far, the book has all of the same information, pages, and outline and is adequate for use at school. Buyers beware! ... Read more

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This Second Edition of Kettl's landmark work on public budgeting has been completely updated and is now part of the "Longman Classics in Political Science" series. Deficit Politics, as part of the Longman Classics series, features a new Foreword by Ross K. Baker of Rutgers University. The rest of the text has been completely updated. Like the original, the Second Edition puts deficit politics at the center of our political system and explores the politics of public budgeting with special attention to its historical roots (what are the traditional battles over budgeting?), economic impact (how do budgets steer the economy?), and the role of political institutions (how do presidents and members of Congress, in particular, resolve the political tradeoffs that lie at the core of budgetary policy?). ... Read more

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With a focus on competition for resources, this balanced, but provocative text uses Harold Laswell's classic definition of politics—“Who gets what, when, and how”—as a framework for presenting a clear, cohesive and stimulating introduction to the American political system.

Thomas Dye, along with new co-author Bartholomew Sparrow, has written a lively and absorbing narrative examining the struggle for power that is American politics: the participants, the stakes, the processes, and the institutions.  Numerous feature boxes explore timely issues, draw cross-cultural comparisons, promote critical thinking, and provoke thoughtful opinions. 

With the intense political conflict of the most expensive presidential campaign in American history and the hotly-contested primary campaigns that led to the national conventions in 2008, Politics in America’s theme of the constant competition for power and resources—“who gets what”—has never been more relevant.

Customer Reviews (1)

Great condition
This book i received was in excellent condition for a used book. It was at a great price and they didn't lie about the condition of the book. ... Read more