Political Science

Leadership: A Very Short Introduction by Keith Grint This book offers a thought-provoking exploration of leadership, challenging common assumptions and encouraging readers to rethink their understanding of what leadership means. Keith Grint examines the...

The Little Book of Boris In His Own Words is a humorous collection of over 170 quotes from the man who has always been known for his colorful wit and bombastic bluster. With his unique vocabulary and verbal antics, Boris has long been a source of...

Helping you prepare for your AQA A-level Politics exams, this Student Guide provides clear topic summaries, sample questions and answers, and exam tips to reinforce your understanding throughout the course.Written by experienced teachers Nick Gallop and...

Hard Choices: What Britain Does Next by Peter Ricketts The international order established after World War II is rapidly coming to an end, leaving Britain facing a range of difficult decisions. Disastrous foreign wars, global recession, and the rise of...

Arlie Russell Hochschild explores the complex relationship between pride and politics in Appalachia, where a proud people have suffered economic and cultural loss, leading to a powerful political appeal that makes it feel "stolen". In her research,...

Ali Ansari's insightful exploration of Iran's complex history reveals a nation torn between its desire for modernity and its adherence to traditional values. From the country's decline as a Great Power in the 19th century to its recent civil unrest,...

Russia's New Authoritarianism: Understanding Putin's Politics of Order David G. Lewis examines the ideological foundations of Russia's political system under Vladimir Putin. He explores the Russian understanding of key concepts such as sovereignty,...

Thomas Piketty's Capital in the Twenty-First Century: An Introduction provides a concise and accessible overview of the author's influential work. This compact introduction lays out Piketty's central argument that inequality under capitalism has reached...

The state of politics has lost some of its integrity, and the consequences are far-reaching. Jess Phillips sets out to reclaim the truth and bring back standards to the world of politics. With a mix of humour and urgency, she tackles the culture wars and...

Develop your students' enthusiasm for contemporary UK society with this OCR endorsed textbook, designed to support the 2016 specification. The book features knowledge-boosting activities and assessment support to help students of all abilities reach...

Red Famine: Stalin's War on Ukraine In 1929, Stalin launched a policy of agricultural collectivization, forcing millions of peasants off their land and onto collective farms. The result was a catastrophic famine, the most lethal in European history, with...

A Small Man's England by Tommy Sissons is a thought-provoking exploration of the complex relationships between class, race, masculinity, and nationality in neoliberal Britain. The book examines how the structures of hierarchy that maintain power across...

Democratic Reason explores the cognitive system of democratic decision making, demonstrating that the processes and procedures of democracy form a strong case for its superiority. Hélène Landemore argues that democracy is valuable not only for its...

A public health crisis is gripping the UK, with improvements in life expectancy stalled, health inequalities widening, and obesity and alcohol misuse placing an increasing strain on health services. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed weaknesses in the...

Safeguarding Children: A Shared Responsibility is a comprehensive guide to identifying children at risk and the social work process. This book presents a multi-disciplinary approach to safeguarding, highlighting the importance of cooperation between...

Britain is more unequal than ever before. If we're ever going to fix this, we must take the power out of Westminster. Two Labour Mayors, Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram, are leading the fight to create a more equal Britain. In their book, Head North,...

Unspoken Politics: Exploring Implicit Attitudes and Political Thinking This book delves into the world of implicit attitudes, revealing how they shape our political thinking and influence public opinion. By examining the mechanics of the implicit...

Behind the scenes of international diplomacy, a different kind of power is at play. In her own experiences as chief of protocol for the President of the United States, Capricia Penavic Marshall has seen how the smallest details can make all the...

Attachment, Trauma and Resilience offers a unique insight into family life with children who have experienced overwhelming stress. Kate and Brian Cairns, who have fostered 12 children over 25 years, share their personal and professional experience to...

Despised: Why the Modern Left Loathes the Working ClassPaul Embery argues that the disconnect between the Labour Party and working-class Britain has been a result of the Left's adoption of economic and social liberalism. Drawing on his background as a...

Inventing Human Rights: A History by Lynn Hunt The concept of human rights has a complex and often tumultuous history, shaped by significant cultural and intellectual developments. Professor Lynn Hunt explores the origins of human rights, tracing their...

Selling Apartheid South Africa's Global Propaganda War is a revealing account of the South African government's extensive efforts to promote its apartheid regime abroad. Over a period of fifty years, the regime invested around $100 million annually in a...

Countdown Our Last, Best Hope for a Future on Earth? In a world where the planet's resources are dwindling, Alan Weisman embarks on a global investigation into the most pressing questions facing humanity's future. Drawing on his experience with The World...

Paul Mason offers a radical blueprint for resisting and defeating the new far right in this thought-provoking guide to stopping fascism.Fascism is a symptom of capitalist failure, according to Mason, and history shows us the conditions that breed it. The...

A fresh perspective on statecraft in the cyber domain challenges traditional notions of "cyber war". Instead, Robert Chesney and Max Smeets argue that cyber competition is more akin to an intelligence contest, where states and nonstate actors vie for...

Hitler's path to power was far from certain in the summer of 1932. The Weimar Republic was on the brink of collapse, with one in three Germans unemployed and violence rampant. The Nazi Party, led by Adolf Hitler, surged at the polls, but ultimately lost...

Patrick Magee's memoir is a powerful exploration of the past and its impact on the present. The author recounts his life, including the events leading up to the 1984 Brighton bombing, in an unflinching and honest account. He also chronicles his...

The West is Losing the War on Terror by Michael Scheuer The US intelligence community has a stark warning: the war on terror is being lost. Michael Scheuer, a member of the US intelligence community, argues that the greatest danger for Americans is to...

A comprehensive examination of the rationality of foreign policy is presented in this book by John J. Mearsheimer and Sebastian Rosato. The authors argue that rational decisions in international politics are based on credible theories about how the world...

Things fall apart when empires crumble. This time, we think, things will be different. They are not. In this updated edition of Rule Britannia, Danny Dorling and Sally Tomlinson argue that the vote to leave the EU was the last gasp of the old empire...

This 1912-13 work on the National Question remains a vital resource for revolutionaries today.Originally praised by Lenin, Stalin's treatise on the subject continues to be relevant to those seeking to understand the complexities of national identity and...

The Real North Korea: Life and Politics in the Failed Stalinist Utopia Andrei Lankov, a native of the former Soviet Union, brings a unique perspective to understanding North Korea. Having lived as an exchange student in the country in the 1980s, he has...

The public sector has become increasingly reliant on the free market model, with politicians and policymakers promoting its benefits. However, this approach has led to significant investment in "improvement" and "customer choice" initiatives, yet...

How Not to Be Wrong: The Art of Changing Your MindJames O'Brien's deeply personal book is a tonic for a world more divided than ever. The author, who has built a loyal following through his radio show, turns the mirror on himself to reveal what he has...

Confronting Leviathan: A History of Ideas is a comprehensive primer on political theory by David Runciman, a renowned author and host of Talking Politics.This book explores the evolution of ideas about the nature of power, governance, and the role of the...

The World is Flat: The Globalized World in the Twenty-first Century by Thomas L. Friedman The world is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by the rapid advancement of technologies that have connected the globe like never before. This...

Socialism: The Failed Idea that Never Dies Despite a century of attempts to build a socialist society, the concept remains remarkably resilient. Over 25 failed experiments, from the Soviet Union to Maoist China and Venezuela, have all ended in varying...

Hamas: The Quest for Power The story of Hamas is one of unexpected rise to power and shocking violence. Declared a terrorist menace, the group was elected in a free vote, and then used its control of Gaza to launch devastating attacks on Israel. This...

Discover the unexpected places where British politics was shaped. From chance meetings to untimely deaths, Matt Chorley reveals how the mundane and the absurd have played host to the mighty in modern politics.With insider-knowledge, smart analysis and...

International relations affects us all: our security, economic well-being, rights and freedoms, and the environment we share. The world has changed dramatically since the era of empires, and today's world of sovereign states is shaped by a complex array...

Henry David Thoreau's Walden is a deeply personal and philosophical exploration of simple living. In this book, Thoreau recounts his two-year experiment in living in a small cabin near Walden Pond, where he sought to live a life of simplicity,...

21st-Century Statecraft explores the challenges of statecraft in a rapidly changing world. Professor Nayef Al-Rodhan proposes five innovative concepts to guide geopolitical analysis and governance.These concepts, including 'meta-geopolitics' and...

News from Nowhere and Other WritingsThis collection showcases the diverse writings of William Morris, with a central theme of the earthly paradise. In News from Nowhere, Morris presents a compelling vision of an ideal future society, born from...

Robert Verkaik's powerful polemic explores the divisions in modern Britain, focusing on the role of elite schools in shaping public life. The author argues that the system, originally intended to educate the most underprivileged, has instead contributed...

Arundhati Roy examines the dark side of Indian democracy, where the country's 100 richest people own assets worth a quarter of India's gross domestic product. The nation is haunted by the ghosts of hundreds of thousands of farmers who have taken their...

Against the Fascist Creep by Alexander Reid Ross The rise of fascist tendencies in US society is often met with complacency. The 2015 Charleston church shooting, in which nine black parishioners were murdered, is a stark reminder of the dangers of this...

The Constitution of Liberty: A Fundamental Statement on Freedom and Liberty F. A. Hayek's The Constitution of Liberty is a seminal work that explores the ideals of freedom and liberty, and their role in shaping Western civilization. In this book, Hayek...

The Parasitic Mind: How Infectious Ideas Are Killing Common Sense A provocative guide to defending reason and intellectual freedom, The Parasitic Mind exposes the bad ideas that are stifling rational debate and threatening our most basic freedoms. Dr...

The Final Days of the Trump Presidency by Michael Wolff The chaotic final days of Donald Trump's presidency are revealed in this extraordinary account. Drawing on exclusive sources, Michael Wolff provides a unique insight into the inner workings of the...

Discourses on Livy is a foundational work of political science that offers a unique perspective on the nature of politics and the ideal state. Written by Niccolo Machiavelli in 1531, this book is a key component of his broader oeuvre, alongside The...

The Last Colony: A Tale of Exile, Justice and Britain's Colonial Legacy In 1960s Britain, a secret decision was made to offer the US a base at Diego Garcia, one of the islands of the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean. This move led to the creation...

The Virtue of Nationalism by Yoram Hazony A world of sovereign nations is the only option for those who care about personal and collective freedom, according to Yoram Hazony. In this book, he argues that a nationalist order is the only realistic...

Climate change is not a theory we should still debate, but a reality that has already been felt on a global scale. In "High Tide", Mark Lynas takes us on a journey to show the impact of global warming in people's lives. From the thawing of Alaskan plains...

Handmaking America offers a practical and achievable vision for a good society, one that recovers the essential strength of the American idea. The book reaches back to the Arts-and-Crafts roots of progressive thought, confronting the way right-wing...

Healing Through the Bones explores the impact of violent conflict on individuals and communities in Cyprus, where a divide between Turkish and Greek Cypriots persists to this day. The book examines the process of exhumation and its role in promoting...

Marcus Garvey's Message to the People is a collection of life lessons imparted to his most trusted organizers in 1937. For one month, he shared his philosophy on universal knowledge, leadership, character, and the social system, offering profound...

Guy Standing's Plunder of the Commons: A Manifesto for Sharing Public Wealth We are losing the commons. Austerity and neoliberal policies have depleted our shared wealth, leading to the sale of national utilities to foreign conglomerates, the...

Great Ideas: Imperialism and the Highest Stage of CapitalismVladimir Lenin's seminal work explores the inherent flaws of capitalism, revealing its inevitable trajectory towards imperialism, monopolies, and colonialism. Lenin's prophetic text argues that...

Safeguarding Adults and the Law, now in its third edition, provides a comprehensive overview of the complex area of work within an extensive legal framework. This A-Z guide offers quick reference to a wide range of civil and criminal law, as well as...

The 2017 General Election: A Progressive Alliance Story The seven-week campaign period of the 2017 General Election saw the Progressive Alliance fight a unique battle. Its aim was to bridge divides, start conversations, and forge alliances between...

Socialism and the mindset of the traditional left have outlived their purpose. A new political philosophy is needed to create a fair and egalitarian society for all people. This book challenges established politics in the West, presenting a profound...

The Freedom to Flourish by Lesley Riddoch is a thought-provoking exploration of the concept of freedom and its significance in modern society. The book delves into the history of the idea of freedom, tracing its evolution from ancient Greece to the...

Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy is a seminal work on the subject of socialism, written by Joseph A. Schumpeter. Spanning nearly forty years of thought, observation, and research, this volume brings together Schumpeter's analysis of socialism and its...

The Punishment of Gaza by Gideon Levy In 2009, Israel's invasion of Gaza was a devastating act of aggression that resulted in the deaths of over a thousand Palestinians and left the enclave's infrastructure in ruins. This book provides a detailed account...

The world is facing a permacrisis, a complex web of crises that threaten our future. Three respected thinkers, Gordon Brown, Mohamed A. El-Erian, and Michael Spence, came together to share their concerns and find a way forward. They recognised that while...

Notes on Nationalism is a collection of biting and timeless reflections on patriotism, prejudice, and power. Written by George Orwell, this book offers a thought-provoking exploration of the complexities of human psychology and the dangers of unchecked...

The Black Book of Communism Crimes, Terror, Repression by Stéphane Courtois This comprehensive account of the crimes of Communism reveals the shocking reality behind the ideology's promises. Drawing on recently opened archives in the former Soviet bloc,...

The Coming of Neo-Feudalism: A Warning to the Global Middle Class A new era of social hierarchy is emerging, marked by increased concentration of wealth and property, reduced upward mobility, and demographic stagnation. The middle class, once a...

Rumbles of Thunder: Power Shifts and the Danger of Sino-American War The relationship between established and rising powers is a complex one, with shifts in the balance of power often cited as a potential trigger for conflict. Steve Chan examines the...

Orania Building a Nation by Jonas Nilsson is a unique hybrid of a photo book and in-depth analysis, offering a rare glimpse into a community striving for self-determination and cultural preservation. Printed on high-quality photo paper, this luxurious...

The Political Brain: The Role of Emotion in Deciding the Fate of the Nation by Drew Westen is a groundbreaking investigation into the role of emotion in determining the political life of the nation. For two decades, Drew Westen has explored a theory of...

Jon Cruddas argues that work is not just a necessary evil, but a source of purpose and meaning. In this book, he challenges the idea that technology will soon make work obsolete, and instead calls for a politics that is rooted in the workplace. Cruddas...

Rupert Read's insider account of Extinction Rebellion offers a unique perspective on the movement's debates, tactics, and passion. Written by someone who has been closely involved in the organisation, these essays provide a timely and urgent plea for...

The Battle for Justice in Palestine by Ali Abunimah A comprehensive analysis of the struggle for a just and single-state solution in Palestine, this book provides an effective strategy for advancing the cause of justice and equality in the region. The...

Preston's remarkable transformation is a testament to the power of local action and community-led change. This book tells the story of how one city in the north of England took control of its economy and created a more democratic and sustainable future...

The Imperial Mode of Living: Everyday Life and the Ecological Crisis of Capitalism This book explores the concept of the Imperial Mode of Living, which highlights how capitalism's logic of liberal markets has become embedded in everyday practices. The...

The Centre Must Hold: Why Centrism is the Answer to Extremism and Polarisation In a world marked by division and misinformation, centrism offers a more effective brand of politics. This book explores the principles and approaches that have proven...

Nelson Mandela's Long Walk to Freedom is a riveting memoir that re-creates the drama of his life's journey. With clarity and eloquence, Mandela shares his story of hardship, resilience and ultimate triumph, offering a compelling and uplifting account of...

This fully revised and updated edition of Social Policy Theory and Practice provides a comprehensive overview of the field of study, combining theoretical discussions with practical applications. Paul Spicker explores the scope, range, and purpose of...

The Theories of Nationalism: A Critical Introduction provides a comprehensive and balanced overview of the main theoretical perspectives on nationalism. The third edition has been thoroughly revised and updated to include a new chapter on the practical...

Rory Stewart and Gerald Knaus examine the impact of large-scale interventions in Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan, revealing the enormous consequences for international relations, human rights, and our understanding of state building. The authors parse the...

The Least of All Possible Evils: A Short History of Humanitarian Violence Eyal Weizman's groundbreaking exploration of the philosophy underpinning Western humanitarian intervention reveals the dark logic behind the notion of a "lesser evil". This concept...

Futures of Socialism: The Pandemic and the Post-Corbyn Era by Grace Blakeley In the aftermath of the 2019 election defeat, the British left is grappling with the challenges of a global pandemic and a changing political landscape. This collection of...

International Security: A Very Short IntroductionExploring the complexities of international security, this book delves into the key debates surrounding contemporary security challenges and the inherent difficulties in tackling them.From the nature of...

Judith Butler explores the media's portrayal of state violence, a process integral to the way in which the West wages modern war. This portrayal has saturated our understanding of human life, leading to the exploitation and abandonment of whole peoples,...

Dark Money: How a Secretive Group of Billionaires is Trying to Buy Political Control in the US by Jane Mayer. In this powerful and meticulously researched work of investigative journalism, Jane Mayer exposes the network of billionaires trying to buy the...

Refugees in Britain: Practices of Hospitality and Labelling explores the complex and often contradictory nature of the British approach to refugees. Gillian McFadyen examines the ways in which the country's asylum system is shaped by theoretical...

David Kilcullen, a leading expert on modern warfare, explores the future of conflict and urban society in this groundbreaking book. He examines four megatrends - population growth, urbanization, coastal life, and connectedness - and argues that future...

The Theatre of the Oppressed by Augusto Boal Theatre as a mirror to the world, a tool for social change. Augusto Boal's work, The Theatre of the Oppressed, is the foundation for a radical form of theatre that empowers people to imagine and enact change...

The storming of the Capitol on 6 January 2021 was a pivotal moment in American history, revealing the transition from one president to another to be one of the most perilous periods in the country's history. Internationally bestselling author Bob...

The Melancholia of Class: A Working-Class World in Crisis Cynthia Cruz explores the complexities of class in a society dominated by the middle class. She examines the consequences of being a working-class individual in a world that often seeks to...

Theda Skocpol examines the complex interplay between state structures, international forces, and class relations in social revolutions. This rigorous, comparative historical analysis explores three major cases: the French Revolution, the Russian...

Why We Get the Wrong Politicians by Isabel Hardman Isabel Hardman's searching examination of the UK's political class aims to understand why the public tends to distrust politicians. With forensic analysis and revealing reportage, Hardman lifts the lid...

This concise yet comprehensive work offers a profoundly original philosophical interpretation of China's story and develops a Chinese worldview for the future. By rethinking the traditional Western approach to understanding China, the author presents a...

The US Government's Secret Plan to Save Itself--While the Rest of Us Die The US government has been developing secret Doomsday strategies to protect itself for over sixty years. This fascinating story reveals the incredible lengths and depths that...

The Great Power Competition to Control the Resources of Outer Space The second space race is driven by a complex interplay of factors, including available resources, capability, elite preferences, and talent pool. This book examines the economic...

Jon Sopel's insightful portrait of American life and politics explores a country in turmoil. As the BBC's North America Editor, Sopel has experienced America from a unique perspective, from flying aboard Air Force One to interviewing President Obama...

Rohania Camp Narratives: Tales from the 'Lesser Roads' TraveledThis book presents thirteen chapters that explore the untold stories and uncharted paths of life in Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh. Through field trips and personal narratives, the...

The History of Ideas: Equality, Justice, and Revolution by David RuncimanThis thought-provoking book explores the key figures and ideas that have shaped modern politics. From influential thinkers to radical thinkers, Runciman examines the ideas that have...

Theodor W. Adorno's analysis of the new right-wing extremism of the 1960s remains a prescient warning for today's world. In 1967, Adorno delivered a lecture on the rise of the National Democratic Party of Germany, highlighting the tactics and resources...