So often, political science is introduced to students as a segmented field. The Challenge of Politics instead enables students to see how the subfields converge around a set of crucial questions: can we as citizens and students articulate and defend a view of the good political life and its guiding political values? Can we develop a science of politics to help us understand significant political phenomena—the empirical realities of politics? Can we bring a high level of political prudence or wisdom to bear on judgments about politics and public issues? Can citizens and students creatively address the future of politics?

Riemer, Simon, and Romance aim to harmonize the valuable lessons of classic and contemporary theory, as well as to reconcile politics to scientific and empirical study. The book gives students an avenue to explore the impact of philosophy and ideology, to recognize major forms of government, to evaluate empirical findings, and to understand how policy issues directly affect people’s lives. Throughout, the authors look at political dynamics of American, comparative, and international affairs.

While continuing to pursue its distinctive normative approach and showing politics to be a potentially humanizing enterprise, this new edition of Challenge has been revised and updated for major world events like the global financial crisis, recent elections in the U.S. and elsewhere, important policy decisions like the recent Supreme Court ruling in the U.S. on healthcare, and the aftermath of the Arab Spring. Based on reviewer feedback, it has also been substantially streamlined throughout.

NEW TO THIS EDITION:

• Chapter 4, The Physical, Social, and Cultural Environment of Politics, offers more extensive discussion of the impact of the cyberworld
• Chapter 7, Democratic Socialism and Communism, has been significantly streamlined
• Chapter 8 on dictatorship presents a more varied look at the major cases in the post WWI era
• Coverage of the results of the 2012 elections
• Discussion of the European financial crisis and the effect on the EU
• Coverage of the differences between Presidential and Parliamentary systems has been clarified and improved.
• Coverage of developments in the Middle East in the aftermath of the 2011 uprisings
• Added discussion of the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street movements
• Updated tables, graphs, and photos

FEATURES & BENEFITS:

• “Key questions” lists within each of the chapters to help students grasp important concepts as they read.
• End of chapter lists of Suggested Readings
• Glossary

• Chapter 4, The Physical, Social, and Cultural Environment of Politics, offers more extensive discussion of the impact of the cyberworld
• Chapter 7, Democratic Socialism and Communism, has been significantly streamlined
• Chapter 8 on dictatorship presents a more varied look at the major cases in the post WWI era
• Coverage of the results of the 2012 elections
• Discussion of the European financial crisis and the effect on the EU
• Coverage of the differences between Presidential and Parliamentary systems has been clarified and improved.
• Coverage of developments in the Middle East in the aftermath of the 2011 uprisings
• Added discussion of the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street movements
• Updated tables, graphs, and photos

CQ Press is pleased to comply with the Higher Education Opportunity Act. Please email heoacompliance@cqpress.com for additional information that may be available. Be sure to include your name, contact information, academic affiliation, and the title, author, and edition of the book in question.

Contact us at collegesales@cqpress.com if we may assist you in your book selection or if you have feedback to share. Thank you for your consideration of CQ Press books.

Introduction

Part 1. Rules of the Game

• Games Politicians Play 
•  Politics and Choice
• Political Science: Components, Tasks, and Controversies
• The Physical, Social, and Cultural Environment of Politics

Part 2. Political Philosophy and Ideology

• The Quest for the Good Political Life
• Liberal Democracy
• Democratic Socialism and Communism: Ideologies of the Left
• Toward a General Understanding of Dictatorship and Authoritarian States

Part 3. Comparative and World Politics

• The Political Values of Political Actors
• National Politics: Culture, Constitutions, Citizens
• National Politics: Governmental Actors
• International Politics and the Global Community

Part 4. Political Judgment and Public Policy

• War and Peace in the Modern Age
• The Battle on Behalf of Human Rights
• The Struggle for Economic Well- Being
• The Imperative of Ecological Health

Conclusion

INSTRUCTOR’S RESOURCES
http://college.cqpress.com/instructors-resources/challenge
Instructor’s resources include PowerPoint lecture slides and a test bank—with multiple-choice, short answer, and essay questions.

STUDENT RESOURCES
http://college.cqpress.com/cs/challenge
A full companion website includes chapter summaries, study questions, interactive flashcards, multiple-choice quizzes, and annotated web links.