Political Science For Dummies

Marcus A. Stadelmann, PhD, is a professor of political science and chair of the Department of Political Science and History at the University of Texas at Tyler. Along with teaching at universities in California, Utah, and Texas, Dr. Stadelmann has published and given presentations in the fields of American politics and international relations.

Introduction 1 Part 1: Understanding Political Science 5 Chapter 1: Discovering the Discipline of Political Science 7 Chapter 2: Shaping Research in Political Science: Looking at Major Approaches 19 Chapter 3: Dealing with Political Culture 31 Part 2: Comparing Governments 47 Chapter 4: Discussing Different Forms of Government 49 Chapter 5: Setting the Rules: Constitutions 63 Chapter 6: Comparing Political Institutions: Systems of Government 79 Chapter 7: Elections, Political Parties, and Interest Groups 95 Part 3: Going Global: International Relations 113 Chapter 8: Thinking Globally: The Study of International Relations 115 Chapter 9: Creating Some Order: International Law and Diplomacy 131 Chapter 10: Creating Order through International Organizations 145 Chapter 11: Not Going to War: The Cold War 1946-1991 163 Chapter 12: Dealing with Political Violence: War and Terrorism 181 Chapter 13: Mixing Disciplines: International Political Economy 195 Part 4: Going from Classical to Modern Political Ideologies 215 Chapter 14: Starting in Greece: The Roots of Political Science 217 Chapter 15: Going Modern: Middle Ages to the Present 229 Chapter 16: Moving to the Right: Fascism, Neofascism, and Right-Wing Populism 251 Chapter 17: Going Left: Communism, Socialism, and Social Democracy 271 Part 5: The Part of Tens 287 Chapter 18: Ten Political Science Books Everyone Should Read 289 Chapter 19: Ten Modern Political Scientists 297 Index 303