"Politics is a gateway to a broader and better understanding of human nature, society, and the world." This idea has inspired each edition of Understanding Politics: Ideas, Institutions, and Issues. Thomas Magstadt's book provides in-depth coverage of contemporary political issues and calls attention to the more enduring underlying questions.

With its intense, engaging "politics are pertinent" theme and current, cutting-edge coverage, the Eleventh Edition will fascinate you with its coverage of three fundamental premises:

1) politics is a pervasive force in modern society
2) government is too critically important to be left in the hands of a few
3) everyone has both the opportunity and the obligation to participate in public life in a democracy.

The Eleventh Edition focuses on such vital concepts as democracy, dictatorship, citizenship, voting behavior, elections, leadership, ideologies, war, revolution, world politics, and public policy.