50 Political Ideas You Really Need to Know

50 Ideas You Really Need to Know

by Ben Dupré

In a series of 50 accessible essays, Ben Dupré introduces and explains the fundamental concepts of politics including political theory, ideologies and the machinery of politics.

From revolution to feminism, monarchy to political parties, 50 Political Ideas You Really Need to Know is a complete introduction to the most important political ideas in history.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Ebooks, History, Reference, Political Science

208 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 2, 2007

About the author

Ben Dupré read Classics at Exeter College, Oxford, before pursuing a career in publishing. Until 2004 he was children's reference publisher at Oxford University Press.

He is the author of Places of Destiny (published in the US as Where History was Made), 50 Big Ideas You Really Need to Know, 50 Political Ideas You Really Need to Know and the bestselling 50 Philosophy Ideas You Really Need to Know.

A devotee of baseball and early music, Ben lives in Oxford with his family.

Reviews

[Mohammed Alshanakhnakh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be your first read in politics. In 4 pages per idea, the author gives a brief history of the idea and the its founding philosophers, and discusses the different views and arguments around it. The 50 ideas in the book are:

Liberty
Justice
Equality
Human Rights
The social contract
Democracy
Monarchy
Tyranny
Utopianism
Revolution
Anarchism
Secularism
Republicanism
Capitalism
Conservatism
Liberalism
Socialism
Communism
Social democracy
Multiculturalism
Labor movement
Feminism
Green movement
Fascism
Fundamentalism
Islamism
The state
Constitutions
Presidential system
Parliaments
Political parties
Civil service
Media
Propaganda
Poverty
Crime
Security
Intelligence
Political violence
Welfare
Racism
Corruption
Political correctness
Realism
War
Nationalism
Imperialism
Isolationism
Globalization
United Nations

[Reem Alkhalaf · Rating 4 out of 5]

يحتوي الكتاب على ٥٠ موضوع متعلق بالسياسة، قد تكون بعض المواضيع معروفة "كالديمقراطية والإشتراكية" ، وبعضها مألوفة ولكن من مجهولة المعنى "كالإمبريالية والفوضوية"، وبعضها اختلط مفهومها للقارئ حتى ظنها موضوعاً واحداً "كالعلمانية والليبرالية أو حتى كالعدالة والمساواة".

أحببت حيادية الكاتب خصوصاً عند حديثه عن الأصولية والإسلام السياسي، فقد تحدث بكل مصداقية وشفافية دون أي تحيز أو تعميم. أبسط مثال هجمات ١١ سبتمبر، لم يخفي أبداً أن الولايات المتحدة كانت داعمة لهذه الحركات الإرهابية والتي تسببت في ما بعد بضربة قاسية لها.

ترجمة الكتاب ممتازة وأسلوب الكاتب كان بسيط ومفهوم، تم شرح كل موضوع ببساطة واختصار حيث لا يزيد أي موضوع عن أربع صفحات، كما كانت فكرة الخط الزمني والإطارات لكل موضوع جميلة جداً، فكل موضوع يتم التطرق له يحتوي على خط زمني ليوضح للقارئ كيف تطورت الأحداث، واطار يتطرق لأحداث متعلقة بالموضوع الأساسي.

[Bassant Alrayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book basically summarized 50 ideas each in 4 pages with a timeline/historical references as well as providing two sides of the argument circling the idea. for someone like me who doesn't like details as much, this book is perfect for providing the main concept revolving around "an idea" or a certain ideology.

[Matt Sautman · Rating 4 out of 5]

What this book does well illustrating how complex many of the components that comprise the field of political science actually are, and that itself makes it worth reading, I do not believe it holds up to the Philosophy Ideas installment that Mr. Dupre also penned. Why is that? The content of 50 Political Ideas are more general overviews of larger concepts whereas 50 Philosophy Ideas is comprised of less general, more specific notions in relation to the philosopher(s) who coined (and later debated) the term. This is not to say that there are not moments within this text that do that as well, but the book has more of an overall reference book aesthetic while Philosophy Ideas (technically a reference book as well) has the feel of a rigorous academic course that drives the reader to think more critically about the world with every idea. It is handy and somewhat useful, but certainly not necessary reading.

[Hamid · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a primer on politics. It covers concepts like equality, justice, liberty, capitalism, socialism, democracy, crime, poverty, etc. It's a pretty good summary of 50 fundamental political ideas. To understand the world better and its complex mechanisms, we need to know a little bit of politics and this book is a good start. And the author is mostly unbiased in his explanations, mostly leaving open-ended questions to the reader.

[Sigrid Kinsarvik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Så bra strukturert bok at den rydder i hjerne-hyllene.

En ulempe er at når ting står beskrevet av en utdannet person som forfatter her, faller det meg ikke inn å kritisere det som er skrevet, (men det er nok et me-problem)

Gøy med alle trådene som blir dratt, veldig «politikk i historie (eller i kontekst)»

[Luis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Acabo de terminar este libro de la cada vez más sobresaliente serie "50 cosas que hay que saber sobre..." y la verdad es que me va a ser difícil transmitir todo lo que he aprendido y disfrutado con este pequeño compendio de la política. Este ha sido, además, el primer libro del que he ido opinando capítulo a capítulo por Twitter.

Es un libro ideal para un neófito en el tema como yo, pero que podría tener poco para portar a alguien que ya tenga unas buenas nociones sobre el tema (después de todo, ésta es la tónica general de la colección). En estas páginas se recogen todo tipo de conceptos que están presentes continuamente en nuestros periódicos y nuestras vidas: desde las definiciones básicas de Libertad, Igualdad y Globalización hasta las corrientes más definidas como Comunismo, Liberalismo o Capitalismo, a la vez que se aportan algunos temas de reflexión como la corrupción, la ecología y un muy acertado último capítulo sobre las penurias en las que vivimos desde 2008, donde nadie comprende casi nada.

Me ha gustado el tono del autor, que va siempre de lo básico a lo conflictivo pero que se hace fácil de seguir. El sesgo político es mínimo, ya que todos los temas están igualmente representados y de todas las posturas enumera ventajas e inconvenientes. Es una forma agradable, casi gráfica de contar una historia que muchas veces se hace letárgica.

Lo recomiendo encarecidamente a todo aquél que quiera saber más sobre política pero no quiera estar preguntando todo el tiempo. De hecho, me parece un excelente libro de texto que se podría tener a mano en muchas clases de secundaria.

[Francisco Mtz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un muy buen panorama de temas muy recurrentes de la "política" redactados de forma clara y sucinta. Sin embargo, se echa en falta alguna lista de lecturas al final de cada tema para profundizar en el mismo si el lector lo desea.

[Madalena M · Rating 4 out of 5]

What motivated me to read this book was the realization that I was beginning to forget the meanings and nuances of certain political concepts. Too often, society takes words with complex definitions and applies them indiscriminately. That was making me feel indecisive, unsure whether I agreed or disagreed with something, because I couldn’t recall the subtleties of the debates tied to those concepts. It was also making me nostalgic for the rigor of the social sciences, which strive to apply concepts precisely.

This book sets out to define and present the academic debates surrounding 50 political concepts, and for me it became a lifeline. It allowed me to refresh my memory quickly, without having to undertake a massive literature review just to reach a definition or form an opinion.

That said, I didn’t love every exposition. I found the book a bit Anglocentric and/or Americentric, with most examples drawn from those societies. This sometimes made certain concepts feel incomplete. I think examples from other countries and societies outside of those countries and outside of the West would have enriched the discussions. Still, many entries were well developed, forcing me to reflect more deeply and some even served to criticize the West.

Despite this caveat, I learned a lot from the concepts that were well presented. My favorites include: Human Rights, Socialism, Communism, Social Democracy, The Presidential System, Poverty, War, Globalization, United Nations, Equality, Crime, Welfare, Realism.

Others that I didn’t find as strong, but still recommend: The Social Contract, Revolution, Fascism, Islamism, The State, Media, Corruption, Political Correctness, Nationalism, Imperialism, Isolationism, Anarchism, Justice, Monarchy, Utopianism, Capitalism, Liberalism, Multiculturalism, Civil Service.

I leave this book unable to memorize all 50 conceptualizations and the debates around them, but with a reliable, accessible “cheat sheet” I can turn to whenever I need to.

[Tom Calvard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this series in general, and this one didn't disappoint. The selection of 50 ideas felt useful and comprehensive. There were the usual engaging features of quotes, boxes, timelines, and little intros and outros for each of the 50 entries.

I'd hesitate to put an age on readership, but I think anyone of about 16 or above could give it a go and get a lot from it. There will inevitably always be limitations and omissions with books like these - it is quite western-focused overall, and it is now over 10 years old, although still pretty timeless and international in much of its coverage.

If you have not studied politics before (like me) then it is truly illuminating and clarifying of fundamental figures, events and ideas. I vaguely knew about 60% of it already, perhaps, but even then the language and summaries were very helpful and reinforcing.

I find politics fascinating and frightening in equal measure. In general, I thought the author struck a good balance between different critiques and debates, past and present, optimistic and pessimistic. Soak it up and realise over and over how the human world and human history is saturated with power, conflict, compromise, hopes, and fears.

[José Vivas M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quien se preocupe mínimamente por su entorno social, por las noticias de su país y el mundo, por el diario trajinar de partidos, autoridades o instituciones, por los debates ideológicos en los medios, ha leído una y mil veces los términos que este libro presenta. Pero casi con seguridad enmudecería si se le detiene e invita a definirlos: ¿Vives en democracia, dictadura, monarquía? ¿Vives en un régimen autoritario o es más bien tirano, o absolutista? ¿Eres de izquierda, de derechas, de centro? ¿Cómo lo sabes? ¿Conoces tus derechos? ¿Eres capitalista, republicano, fascista, anarquista?
Lo que este libro hace es poner en pocas palabras y de forma clara las definiciones de estas y otras tantas ideas, conceptos que dan forma al quehacer de la sociedad política.
Un excelente libro de consulta para manejar con precisión o refrescar conceptos y definiciones del ámbito, con un lenguaje sencillo y manejado como pequeños ensayos.

[Juan Manuel Henao Gallego]

Un muy buen libro, muy ilustrativo, diría yo que un libro esencial, no para estudiantes de derecho o de ciencia política, sino en general para todo ciudadano que se repute políticamente activo en su respectiva sociedad.

Muchos de los conceptos o ideas que el libro trata de ilustrar son de uso diario y cotidiano, diría yo que de alguna u otra manera todos nos hemos visto expuestos a dicha terminología, sin embargo, a pesar de su amplia circulación, y conocimiento, cierto es que muchos de éstas ideas no son lo suficientemente bien conocidas o comprendidas, lo que ya de por sí, le resta seriedad y efectividad al muy necesario debate al rededor de la cosa política que nos permea a todos.

[Gareth James · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a brief introduction to these various ideas it is fine, but the format (4 pages per idea) is limiting. You could tell sometimes that he was struggling to fill the 4 pages with a basic relevant introduction (2 long sidebars), whereas other chapters would have benefited from more details.
Also it is frustrating to skim over the ideas of Bentham, Mill, Kant and many others in a brief sentence. I know this goes against the basic idea of the book (a brief introduction) but it left me wanting more, and a more flexible format would have been beneficial.

[Donika Kamberi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great summary of 50 fundamental political concepts that will help you understand better the world we live in today.
You can consult this book every time you find yourself in doubt for a particular question!
For me being a International Relations student it has helped me understand the profound meanings of specific political issues.

Highly recommend especially for history, political science and International relation students!

[Tom Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting guide to some of the most popular political ideas and their inventors, at least those credited with their invention.

However, this book is missing some of the more obscure and creative ideologies from the political spectrum. For those you will have to look elsewhere. But overall a very enjoyable read for lovers of politics, however if politics is not your thing perhaps steer clear of this one.

[Dan Fu · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice, unbiased look into some of the core political ideas that define our time. For me, this was really useful as a resource to understand the principles reasons behind how folks from other walks of life may think about key issues. A little reductive at points by necessity, and a little out of date by the last few chapters - but a good read if you’re interested in politics or the world.

[Luis Carpio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sin duda cada vez aprendo más sobre política, primero fué con un Mundo In(felíz) de Bruno Cardeñosa y ahora con este, las 50 cosas que debes saber sobre política, simplemente recomendado y enamorado.

[James Dueñas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un libro fresco, diferente, q nos recuerda las 50 cosas en política q ejercen poder, de una forma u otra en el Estado, documento recomendado para políticos, estudiantes de ciencia política y abogados, en general para los q estudian las ciencias sociales.

[Harry Cobbett · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too brief an overview, barely scratching the surface of most concepts. Chapters repetitive, like reading a textbook. Will go elsewhere for what I'm looking for - deeper understanding of the fundamentals.

[Michael Maxey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read, was easy to follow, plus I was able to read parts daily and learn something new. Definitely recommend to those that want to either learn something new, or see a topic from another perspective.

[Natalia Fredes · Rating 1 out of 5]

Un tibio y sesgado análisis de la política.

[Fanny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Muy gustó por la cantidad de temas que abarca y el lenguaje accesible para introducirse en diferentes temas de actualidad

[Tavo Art · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelente. Aprendí demasiado de este libro. Lectura recomendada para todos aquellos que gusten iniciarse en política.

[ᴷᴴᴬᴸᴱᴰ ☃; · Rating 1 out of 5]

الكاتب وش قاعد يتكلم فيه !؟. كل محتوياته بعيدة كل البعد عن التوضيح البسيط للمواضيع..ضيعت وقتي معه بدون فايدة للاسف الشديد بالاضافة الى تضييع المال

[H · Rating 2 out of 5]

فيه الكثير من الأخطاء
لن أنصح به لمن هو مبتدئ في السياسة

[Lenin Cortez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brinda un panorama general de los temas que hay que tener presente para entender un poco de la política actual y el devenir de la sociedad. Breve, conciso y práctico.

[Cha.Me · Rating 2 out of 5]

كتاب اقل من عادي .. ، والكاتب فرض اراءه ولم يكن محايدا في الطرح .. ، توقعت ان يكون الكتاب يناقش اهم الأفكار السياسية بإيجاز ووضوح بكل مهنية وموضوعية ولكن للأسف

[David Eugenio · Rating 4 out of 5]

César: La política es el arte de dominar a los hombres, seducirlos o combatirlos.

[Chris Seltzer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Are they though?

Are these really ideas you need to know? Utopianism? That's critical to your functioning in a modern world?

This book is poorly conceived and poorly written.

[Carl]

I'll come back to it someday.