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A New Handbook of Political Science
With contributions by 42 of the best political scientists worldwide, A New Handbook of Political Science analyzes the progress made in political science over the past twenty years in the context of historical trends in the field. International in its scope and systematic in its coverage, this comprehensive volume will be an essential reference book for political scientists and those who track their work. It is the ideal companion for all who intend to follow political science into the next century.
864 pages, Paperback
First published March 28, 1996
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June 10, 2013
A handbook can be a wonderful resource, for those who want an accessible introduction to, in this case, an academic discipline. This is a handbook of political science. As such, it does a good job providing entree to the discipline.
The organization is straightforward--an introductory section followed by sections considering the various subfields of political science. There is enough detail in the book to provide a birds-eye view. Indeed, the total is 35 chapters and 800 pages.
The Introduction has 3 chapters. The first defines the discipline; the second provides a history; the third locates political science within the social sciences.
Other sections (with 4 chapters per section) focus on political institutions, political behavior, comparative politics, international relations, political theory, public policy and administration, political economy, and political methodology. One question comes to me: Why a whole section on political economy? One can make the case, of course, but this is not one of the standard areas that people use in describing the scope of the discipline. Perhaps it is understandable that the volume tends to take a mainstream view of the discipline. But, in the process, other approaches are invisible--such as the application of biology to understanding of politics and political science.
In the final analysis, even though this volume is a little long of tooth (published in 1996), it serves the purpose of introducing people to the discipline and serving to summarize key literature in the various subfields.
The organization is straightforward--an introductory section followed by sections considering the various subfields of political science. There is enough detail in the book to provide a birds-eye view. Indeed, the total is 35 chapters and 800 pages.
The Introduction has 3 chapters. The first defines the discipline; the second provides a history; the third locates political science within the social sciences.
Other sections (with 4 chapters per section) focus on political institutions, political behavior, comparative politics, international relations, political theory, public policy and administration, political economy, and political methodology. One question comes to me: Why a whole section on political economy? One can make the case, of course, but this is not one of the standard areas that people use in describing the scope of the discipline. Perhaps it is understandable that the volume tends to take a mainstream view of the discipline. But, in the process, other approaches are invisible--such as the application of biology to understanding of politics and political science.
In the final analysis, even though this volume is a little long of tooth (published in 1996), it serves the purpose of introducing people to the discipline and serving to summarize key literature in the various subfields.
Displaying 1 of 1 review