UNDERSTAND POLITICS: A TEACH YOURSELF GU

Go behind the scenes of politics from around the world

Understand Politics is a complete introduction to politics and the workings of government. Focusing on the institutions of government and the political systems, it gives you an understanding of the operations of these political systems, the key political themes, and the differences that exist between them. Using contemporary examples from all over the world, this title is essential reading for all those who want to know more about our world today.

Features:

• Fully updated to include discussions on recent international events such as the war on terrorism
• Packed with the knowledge to help you engage with contemporary political events
• Expert advice from an experienced university lecturer who has written extensively on politics, sociology and a variety of related topics
• One and five-minute introductions to key principles to get you started
• Lots of instant help with common problems and quick tips for success, based on the author's many years of experience
• Tests in the book and online to keep track of your progress
• Extra online articles at www.teachyourself.com to give you a richer understanding of the basics of politics

Topics include: Liberal democracy, Political ideologies, Elections and electoral systems, Parties and party systems, Pressure groups, The media, Constitutions, The executive branch of government, The bureaucracy, The legislative branch of government, The judiciary and law enforcement, Sub-national government, The nation state in the modern world

Peter Joyce has worked at Manchester Metropolitan University since 1980 and is currently the Principal Lecturer in the Department of Sociology. He has written widely in the areas of Politics and Criminology.