Power & Choice provides a general, comparative introduction to the major concepts and themes of political science. The author’s goal when writing the book was a text that is conceptually alive and that engages students with concrete examples of analysis without losing them “in a clutter of definitional minutiae."

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W. Phillips Shively’s Power & Choice offers an in-depth look into the nuances of politics, both domestic and international, through the use of multiple comparative perspectives and theoretical approaches. The major theme reflected in the title is based on Shively’s definition of politics as the making of collective choices for a group or state through the use of power. Using extended case examples from around the world, Power & Choice provides undergraduate students with a clear and engaging introduction to political philosophy, comparative legal systems, and international politics.
Highlights of the fifteenth edition:
·Additional coverage of the continuing fallout of the 2008–2009 worldwide economic crisis, the failed Arab Spring, the upsurge of populism and the fragility of democracies, and the Nigerian elections.
·New sections on the importance of norms in democratic government, the need to strike a balance in partisanship, the digital challenge to political parties, and the rise of “court” politics.
·New examples include Rwanda’s attempt to eliminate the use of plastic bags, the two large-scale uprisings in Iran since its revolution, and climate change as an international problem of public goods.
·A new four-color design and updated art program to better engage students.
·New pedagogical aids include “Major Themes to Look For” and review questions in every chapter, as well as new online study quizzes.