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Product Description
Review
"Surveying the history of politics from Plato to the present, it provides a good readable introduction to politics for beginners or a brushup for advanced students or faculty on areas too long ignored."--Choice
"Minogue's slim volume is an admirably light and sensible guide to political practitioners and students who want to learn more about the theoretical and historical context of today's controversies....We would all sleep more soundly if every prospective parliamentary candidate from every party was required to read this admirable book before the next election."--Sir Philip Goodhart
"Kenneth Minogue is a very lively stylist who does not distort difficult ideas....The book cannot fail to attract attention."--Maurice Cranston
"A refreshing, provocative, witty book! It does an excellent job of placing politics within the contexts of history and modern life."--Steve D. Boilard, Western Kentucky University
Product Description
In this provocative but balanced essay, Kenneth Minogue discusses the development of politics from the ancient world to the twentieth century. He prompts us to consider why political systems evolve, how politics offers both power and order in our society, whether democracy is always a good thing, and what future politics may have in the twenty-first century.
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First Sentence
The story is told of how Harun AI Raschid, the caliph of Baghdad, would disguise himself as a beggar in order to discover what his subjects were thinking. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
The story is told of how Harun AI Raschid, the caliph of Baghdad, would disguise himself as a beggar in order to discover what his subjects were thinking. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As a second year political science student, I considered it to be excellently written, even for people who don't have much idea on politics, and it gives a good insight on what the main theories and ideas that you need to retain on politics. He introduces a good evolution of politics from ancient Rome and Greece to the twentieth century. In all it's a great jargon-free introduction to politics and is very recomended.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Politics is, when you stop to think about it, surprisingly slippery in its definition. In this Very Short Introduction, Minogue begins by trying to pin down what we mean by the word, and compares it to what (in his view) it isn't: despotism. He then proceeds to explore the history of politics, starting with the ancient Greeks and Romans and moving on through medieval politics and the influence of Christianity, all the way to the present day.
The author then turns to the practice of politics: how it is experienced, the difference between the State and society, the role of the individual, culture, and the economy. He investigates international relations and examines what we mean by "the national interest". He looks at the experience of engaging in politics - and the type of person it takes to be a politician. As you would expect, parties and doctrines are covered, including the conservative-liberal divide, and where socialism fits into that picture. Concepts like justice, freedom and democracy are also considered.
Finally, Minogue moves on from the practice to the science of politics, and the attempt to understand politics as a process or mechanism. The last chapter is a glance into the future: at growing internationalism, at the widening definition of politics, and how almost everything is now deemed 'political'. There have been hints at the author's political leanings throughout earlier chapters, but it is here that they really come to the fore.
History forms a dominant part of this book, as you might expect. The first third is a solid history of politics, but be warned: the author assumes familiarity with significant figures like Machiavelli and Marx, and takes it from there. Whether this constitutes an 'introduction' to politics is debatable (though readers already familiar with the Very Short Introduction series will know not to expect Politics For Dummies). Like me, you may not entirely agree with Minogue's own politics, but there's no denying his encyclopaedic knowledge. That, combined with his well-crafted prose, makes this is a challenging but pleasurable read.
The author then turns to the practice of politics: how it is experienced, the difference between the State and society, the role of the individual, culture, and the economy. He investigates international relations and examines what we mean by "the national interest". He looks at the experience of engaging in politics - and the type of person it takes to be a politician. As you would expect, parties and doctrines are covered, including the conservative-liberal divide, and where socialism fits into that picture. Concepts like justice, freedom and democracy are also considered.
Finally, Minogue moves on from the practice to the science of politics, and the attempt to understand politics as a process or mechanism. The last chapter is a glance into the future: at growing internationalism, at the widening definition of politics, and how almost everything is now deemed 'political'. There have been hints at the author's political leanings throughout earlier chapters, but it is here that they really come to the fore.
History forms a dominant part of this book, as you might expect. The first third is a solid history of politics, but be warned: the author assumes familiarity with significant figures like Machiavelli and Marx, and takes it from there. Whether this constitutes an 'introduction' to politics is debatable (though readers already familiar with the Very Short Introduction series will know not to expect Politics For Dummies). Like me, you may not entirely agree with Minogue's own politics, but there's no denying his encyclopaedic knowledge. That, combined with his well-crafted prose, makes this is a challenging but pleasurable read.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is probably one of the most amazing, challenging and beautifully-written books I have ever read in my life (at least in English). Kenneth Minogue has produced an outstanding page-turner. The book covers the essential history of politics and looks at the ways in which it is experienced, construed, challenged and also threatened in our modern society. It is an excellent introduction that every serious student of Politics must read.
However, I think that first year university students, who have little or no knowledge of politics might find the content of this book a bit tricky and confusingly complicated. It thus seems appropriate to rename it from "A Very Short Introduction" to "A Very Short Review".
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Review
I have read five different 'a very short introduction...' books; unfortunately, I rank this book last. Read more
Published 3 months ago by PJS
Brief - yes. Introduction - no
If you want an introduction, dont buy this book. It is concise but the terminology is far more complicated than it should be considering the word 'introduction' is in the title.
Published 14 months ago by Al Dude
Long Term View of Politics
Otto von Bismarck once remarked that politics is "the art of the possible." This sentiment is meant to convey the idea that there is not much room for idealism in the everyday... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Dr. Bojan Tunguz
Very convulated
I bought this book in the hope of having simple concepts of democracy being explained to me. However what I got was anything but simple, rather to the point the language used to... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Imran Alam
Curb Your Enthusiasm
It is perhaps inevitable, given the essentially contested nature of politics, that any book on the subject is bound to be slanted, opinionated and infused with the author's own... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Dr Lee Jones
Good and Interesting
It could be a bit difficult to understand (when reading it as a book to pass the time) if some of the meaning of the technical words used in the book have not been understood... Read more
Published on 15 May 2010 by Mr. J. Oyekan
A bit chewy!
This book is very well written, just like all the other books of the series I've read.
The only thing I found difficult is that the author uses overly long and... Read more
The only thing I found difficult is that the author uses overly long and... Read more
Published on 17 Oct 2009 by Psimikakis Chalkokondylis
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