Why Politics Matters: An Introduction to Political Science

WHY POLITICS MATTERS: AN INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL SCIENCE is a full-color, accessible introduction to Political Science. WHY POLITICS MATTERS follows a foundational approach to learning and gives readers a "big picture" of the field, examing Theory, Comparative Politics, including a look at the U.S. government, and International Relations. The authors approach the subject through a theme of theory and practice and emphasize why politics matters to the reader through current, global examples, encouraging critical thinking, discussion, and participation throughout the text. WHY POLITICS MATTERS is the first and only Introduction to Political Science book offering a fully integrated and customizable online reader, COURSEREADER, with a full slate of recommended primary source readings compiled by the authors. Each COURSEREADER selection is called-out in the text alongside the relevant discussion and is accompanied by critical thinking questions to help students apply the reading to their chapter lesson.

Kevin L. Dooley is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey. Since joining the faculty in 2003, he has taught Comparative Politics, Ethics in International Relations, American Foreign Policy, and Early and Modern Political Theory courses. He received his Ph.D. from Rutgers University in 2004. Dr. Dooley's primary research interests include globalization, nationalism and terrorism. In addition to numerous articles, he is the author of POLITICS STILL MATTERS: GLOBALIZATION, GOVERNANCE, AND THE REVIVAL OF REGIONAL MINORITIES (2008) and ALLEGORIES AND METAPHORS IN EARLY POLITICAL THOUGHT: FROM PLATO TO MACHIAVELLI (2018). Dr. Dooley and his wife, Lauren, live in Brick, New Jersey, with their two children, Jack and Megan.