Using Political Ideas 3e - Softcover

Goodwin, B

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0471935840 ISBN 13: 9780471935841

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, 1992

Synopsis

This text on political theory is divided into two sections. The first part examines ideologies, such as Marxism, anarchism and totalitarianism, while the second part looks at such specific ideas as democracy, power, freedom and social justice. Changes in Eastern Europe are reflected in this edition, but the chapters on Marxism and socialism have been retained since left-wing thought still provides a necessary challenge to liberal democratic thinking. In this edition the author has included examples to demonstate that restraints on exploitation of natural resources are urgently needed for the preservation of the environment, thus refuting any notion that a free-market ideology can rationally expect the support of reflective voters; She suggests that ecological arguments need to be evaluated as part of the process of criticism of other, more established ideologies.

About this title

From the Back Cover

"Comprehensive, and covers the main ideologies in an interesting way . . . takes a critical and engaging perspective . . . framed in the context of debates around the meaning and purpose of theoretical enquiry . . . a more rewarding read than its competitors." —Madeleine Davis, Department of Politics, Queen Mary, University of London. "This book is pitched at a good level for bright and interested undergraduates . . . the combination of ideologies and concepts in one book is a major selling point." —Professor Paul Taggart, Professor of Politics, University of Sussex "Pulls off the enviable coup of being scholarly and yet not scary as well as providing genuinely fresh insights for the more familiar reader." —Dr Peter Handley, School of Political, Social, and International Studies, University of East Anglia "An outstandingly useful text . . . I look forward to a fifth edition being made available" —Mark Donovan, Senior Lecturer in Politics, University of Cardiff Using Political Ideas is a unique blend of political philosophy, political theory and history of political thought.  It combines a critique of the major ideologies of recent and contemporary society with an analysis of the ideas that form the very stuff of political debate. By exposing the interplay between ideas and ideologies, it shows why political opponents often speak at cross–purposes and why rational agreement is so hard to achieve in politics. The fifth edition of this well respected and widely known text will be welcomed by all those interested in questions such as: Is equality more important than personal freedom? Does the majority have the right to dictate to the minority in multicultural society? Is nationalism a progressive force in the world? With a new chapter on the political ideologies of the twenty–first century, and greater emphasis on contemporary issues such as multiculturalism, citizenship and identity throughout the book, this new edition is the ideal starting point for students and anyone else who needs an introduction to political thought.

About the Author

Barbara Goodwin is Professor of Politics at the University of East Anglia, Norwich. Her books include Justice by Lottery (2nd edn. 2005) and Ethics at Work (2000) and several books on the political importance of utopian ideas. She has broadcast two series of programmes about democracy on the BBC World Service. Her interests range widely in politics, philosophy and social science.

Edition details

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
• Publication date: 1992
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0471935840
• ISBN 13: 9780471935841
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 3
• Number of pages: 374