A Novel Approach To Politics: Introducing Political Science Through Books, Movies, and Popular Culture

Van Belle (political science and media studies, Victoria U. of Wellington, New Zealand) and Mash (political science, U. of Pennsylvania) intend this introductory textbook for political science instructors who use (or would like to use) fiction to illustrate concepts and promote discussion. Through references to popular literature, television, and film, as well as lively--and at times subjective-- language, they entreat students to understand and contemplate themes such as: utopias and the imperfections of reality, the necessities for government, government and economy, structures and institutions (and their imperfections), courts and law, the democratic ideal, international politics, and political culture, among others. The "fiction appendix" describes the teaching potential of the approximately 100 pop culture titles mentioned in the chapters. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Sent to Earth shortly before Krypton exploded, Doug VanBelle was raised by gorillas in Africa and then bitten by a radioactive spider while on a high school field trip. None of that helped much at all. He misspent his youth-and a bit more-trying to find a violent competitive sport that did not cause him serious harm, but the four times he broke his nose suggest that he is slow to learn. Somewhere in there, there was a bunch of degrees and some other learnin' stuff. He was awarded a full scholarship in Chemical Engineering, dropped out after the first year, went through seven other majors, failed a creative writing elective, took a semester off to work in the Alaskan commercial fishing industry and somehow still managed to graduate on time. He is now a political science professor who writes science fiction and teaches in the media studies programme at Victoria University of Wellington. He is the former president of both the Foreign Policy Analysis and International Communication research sections of the International Studies Association, the Editor in Chief of Foreign Policy Analysis, and he has written extensively on theories of political decision making and the role of news media in international relations. Spurred on by the blatant discrimination inherent in the statement "Trix are for Kids," at age 4 Ken Mash attempted to file a class-action lawsuit on behalf of the rabbit and other animals similarly situated. After three errors in one inning squashed his dreams of playing for the Mets, his overactive justice complex led him to pursue a career as a lawyer and politician. While earning his B.A. in political science he discovered what those jobs were really like. Thus, Ken's next degree was in mixology. Eighteen months later, his fiancée informed him that she was leaving town to do graduate work and that she would go either with him or without him. A couple of degrees later, he is currently a political science professor at East Stroudsburg University of Pe