The Politics of Power: A Critical Introduction to American Government

A critical, focused, point-of-view approach to American government, highlighting the ongoing tension between capitalism and democracy.

Students appreciate a critical approach; The Politics of Power gives them something to think about and argue with, rather than just facts to memorize. The Seventh Edition applies this successful framework to examine recent political conflict over fiscal policy, electoral demographics, health care reform, and economic inequality, among other vital issues.

Ira Katznelson is Ruggles Professor of Political Science and History at Columbia University and Deputy Director of Columbia World Projects. A former president of the American Political Science Association, he is the author of many celebrated books, including Fear Itself, winner of the Bancroft Prize in History.

Mark Kesselman is professor emeritus of political science at Columbia University and co-editor of the International Political Science Review. He is co-author and co-editor of European Politics in Transition and editor of The Politics of Globalization.

Alan Draper is a professor of government at St. Lawrence University. He is the author of Conflict of Interests: Organized Labor and the Civil Rights Movement, 1955–1967 and co-author of The Good Society: An Introduction to Comparative Politics.