Politics (Us Edition): An Introduction to Democratic Government, Third Edition

By Larry W. Johnston and Munroe Eagles

Politics is a comprehensive and comparative introduction to the essential components of democratic politics. It familiarizes students with enduring themes and issues that have arisen over the roughly 2,000-year history of political research and provides foundations for more advanced study in the discipline. The empirical focus is on the institutions and processes associated with presidential and parliamentary variants of liberal democracy.

Following an introduction to some of the central concepts in political analysis and the evolution of political research over the centuries, Politics focuses on political ideas (political philosophy, ideologies, and political culture), institutions (constitutions, legislatures, and executives; their relationships in parliamentary and presidential systems; electoral and party systems; the bureaucracy; and the judiciary), and the international setting. One of the book's central themes is the relationship of contemporary political debates to more enduring traditions of political thought. Philosophical traditions are linked to the emergence and institutional functioning of liberal democracy, and, by virtue of the comparative approach, appreciation of the immense variety of democratic political arrangements in different countries of the world is offered.

This text is accompanied by an instructor's manual on CD-ROM that includes a quantitative assignment and a test bank.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1551118580
• ISBN13: 9781551118581
• Release Date: April 2008
• Publisher: University of Toronto Press
• Length: 496 Pages
• Weight: 1.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.9" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

an introduction to government

Eagles and Johnston have constructed a great text for an introduction into government. This text discusses parliamentary government, bicameralism, federalism, separation of powers, totalitarianism, organized interests, elections, etc... However, this book is probably not suitable for a student with an existing knowledge of politics and the United States government.

Beautifully Complete and Comprehensive

After years of writing political theory, this book was supposed to be for me a simple reference 'just in case'. I found myself scouring it again and again, for it superbly filled out those little pockets of ignorance which are intrinsic to the vast study of democracy. The book is comprehensive enough to mention and guide the reader through the basics of nearly every aspect of government. Where it leaves off, a reading-list is given, further guiding the curious into the next levels of study. I feel extremely lucky to have found this book, and this after majoring in Politics, after receiving a law degree, and after years of private study and thought. If only I could have found it sooner, say, in college. Well, better late than never.