Political Thinking

This essential textbook provides a through, engaging and illuminating introduction to political concepts and theories, allowing for an in-depth exploration of key arguments, issues and topics facing the world in the 21st century. By encouraging students to define concepts carefully, weigh evidence for and against a position, and develop a structured argument, it provides a clear framework to see how politics itself can be understood and changed through theory.

Political Thinking starts from the belief that students are already political thinkers but helps them organise and critique that thinking. Each chapter has a clear structure that provokes deeper thinking about a topic and encourages the freedom – and confidence – to set out and discuss opposing positions. Fully engaging with global political theory, it also extends its remit into contemporary areas arousing strong views, such as race and gender identity, and connects them to the real world of politics. And it breaks new ground by exploring the connections between AI and political theory. Political Thinking supports students towards finding political theory rich and enjoyable.

Key features:

• Provides an organised framework for students to make sense of political thinking and theory.
• Wide range of engaging examples and cases.
• In-text features include key issues, case studies, questions, and further reading.
• Supplementary website enriches the experience beyond the book, including an essay-writing guide, critical thinking exercises, and short videos applying theory to real world issues.

This text will be essential reading for students of political theory, political philosophy, political concepts, and more broadly to the social sciences and philosophy.