Why Politics Matters: Making Democracy Work - Softcover

Stoker, Gerry

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0230360661 ISBN 13: 9780230360662

Publisher: Palgrave, 2016

Synopsis

Profound social changes have made governance and political leadership more challenging than ever. The result is that politics in the democratic world faces a crisis in the 21st century. The revised edition of this highly successful text reassesses the gap between citizen expectation and the realities of government in light of new developments.

About this title

About the Author

Gerry Stoker is Professor of Governance at the University of Southampton, UK. He was previously professor at both Manchester and Strathclyde.Professor Stoker’s main research interests are in governance, democratic politics, local and regional governance, urban politics, public participation and public service reform.

From the Back Cover

In an era of burgeoning anti-politics, public perceptions of politics and politicians appear increasingly marred by either indifference or cynicism. Yet with democratic regimes triumphing as the dominant form of governance globally, it is perhaps surprising that citizens worldwide seem disinclined to engage with and participate in political activity.

The second edition of this prize-winning text once again explores the reasons behind this discrepancy. Drawing on the author's original research and extensive experience of the field, it gives an original theoretical take on the roots of anti-politics and also outlines a number of possibilities for reform with the aim of improving public participation in all contemporary democracies. In doing so, Stoker's highly discerning account covers focal questions in the study of politics, including what politics actually is, why it is omnipresent, and why, from wealth distribution to environmental impacts, no one is untouched by political activity.

Thoroughly updated and revised throughout, the second edition of Why Politics Matters is the perfect introduction for students with an interest in the importance of political debate and participation.

Edition details

• Publisher: Palgrave
• Publication date: 2016
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0230360661
• ISBN 13: 9780230360662
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 264