Mathematics and Politics (Paperback)

Allison M. Pacelli

ISBN 10: 1441926615 / ISBN 13: 9781441926616

Published by Springer-Verlag New York Inc., New York, NY, 2010

About this Item

Paperback. Why would anyone bid $3. 25 in an auction where the prize is a single dollar bill? Can one game explain the apparent irrationality behind both the arms race of the 1980s and the libretto of Puccinis opera Tosca? How can one calculation suggest the president has 4 percent of the power in the United States federal system while another s- gests that he or she controls 77 percent? Is democracy (in the sense of re?ecting the will of the people) impossible? Questionslikethesequitesurprisinglyprovideaveryniceforumfor some fundamental mathematical activities: symbolic representation and manipulation, modeltheoretic analysis, quantitative represen- tionandcalculation,anddeductionasembodiedinthepresentationof mathematical proof as convincing argument. We believe that an ex- sure to aspects of mathematics such as these should be an integral part of a liberal arts education. Our hope is that this book will serve as a text for freshman-sophomore level courses, aimed primarily at students in the humanities and social sciences, that will provide this sort of exposure. A number of colleges and universities already have interdisciplinary freshman seminars where this could take place. Most mathematics texts for nonscience majors try to show that mathematics can be applied to many different disciplines. A students viii PREFACE interest in a particular application, however, often depends on his or hergeneralinterestintheareainwhichtheapplicationistakingplace. Our experience at Union College and Williams College has been that there is a real advantage in having students enter the course knowing that virtually all the applications will focus on a single disciplinein this case, political science. Questionslikethesequitesurprisinglyprovideaveryniceforumfor some fundamental mathematical activities: symbolic representation and manipulation, modeltheoretic analysis, quantitative represen- tionandcalculation,anddeductionasembodiedinthepresentationof mathematical proof as convincing argument. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9781441926616

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Mathematics and Politics (Paperback)
• Publisher: Springer-Verlag New York Inc., New York, NY
• Publication Date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1441926615
• ISBN 13: 9781441926616
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

The author is a recognized expert in applying ideas in modern mathematics to problems in international conflict resolution. Intended for non-specialists and requiring only introductory mathematics, the quantitative methods are presented in strongly applied settings for political science and the social sciences.

From the Back Cover

Mathematics and Politics requires no prerequisites in either subject. The underlying philosophy involves minimizing algebraic computations while focusing on the conceptual aspects of mathematics in the context of real-world questions in political science. This new addition has an added co-author, Allison Pacelli, and covers six major topics: social choice, yes-no voting systems, political power, game-theoretic models of international conflict, fairness, and escalation. In addition to having two new chapters (treating apportionment and conflict resolution), the text has been extensively reorganized and the number of exercises increased to over 300.

EXCERPTS FROM REVIEWS OF THE FIRST EDITION

"Taylor has done a remarkable job of showing the power of deductive reasoning in … the strategic choices actors make in conflict situations … a penetrating analysis of both real-life and hypothetical situations."

-- Steven Brams, New York University

Alan Taylor’s book is carefully crafted. He is ever aware of his audience, but relentlessly presses the beginning student to understand more and more."

-- Samuel Merrill III, American Mathematical Monthly

This book is a unique and valuable source … Coverage is thorough and extensive; ideas are explained clearly and at an appropriate mathematical level."

-- Ed Packel, Lake Forest College

"… Mathematics and Politics is a nearly perfect solution, either for classes or for the serious professional who wants to retool. … The writing is crisp, and the sense of excitement about learning mathematics is seductive."

-- Michael Munger, Chance

" I like this book. It’s nice mathematics with serious applications."

-- John Ewing, Indiana University

"Now we have, in Alan Taylor’s book, an introduction to these ideas that is delightfully lucid and requiresalmost no mathematical prerequisites."

-- Phillip D. Straffin, College Mathematics Journal

"[The book] breaks new ground and could stand as the definitive undergraduate textbook in this area for quite some time."

-- Stan Wagon, Macalester College