Can politics be a civilizing endeavor? Most students do not view it as such; rather, they see it as a necessary evil, overly partisan and messy. Politics in other nations seems even more confusing and bewildering with a variety of political systems, divergent histories, and diverse cultures. Where do you begin then, when teaching all of politics--its philosophy, science, policies, subfields, and scholarly debates? Just because the question is difficult to answer does not mean we should avoid tackling it. Indeed, The Challenge of Politics links social scientific concerns to the important role that values and judgment play in politics; it calls upon students to make wise decisions based on a combination of factors: thorough knowledge, deep understanding, rational thought, and a sense of compassion. This theme of politics as a scientific study and a humanizing enterprise enables students to effectively 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.

With the introductory student in mind, this text includes a wealth of features to aid learning. Photos with informative captions, tables and figures with contextual data, a variety of maps, annotated suggested readings, and highlighted key terms with a glossary enhance the book�s presentation and help students review and study.