"[This is] a textbook that offers students a good introduction to the science of politics while emphasizing the moral, empirical, and prudential dimensions of politics."

 —Prosper Bernard, Jr., College of Staten Island 

This updated Sixth Edition of The Challenge of Politics enables students to see how the subfields of political science converge around a set of crucial questions, such as "Can we as citizens and students articulate and defend a view of the good political life and its guiding political values?" "Can we bring political wisdom to bear on judgments about politics and public issues?" and "Can we develop a science of politics to help us understand significant political phenomena—the empirical realities of politics?" Balancing lessons of classic and contemporary theory with contemporary politics and empirical study, the book equips students with the tools they need to explore the impact of philosophy and ideology, recognize major forms of government, evaluate empirical findings, and understand how policy issues directly affect people’s lives. The updated Sixth Edition includes new material on the 2016 presidential elections, the role of social media in politics, and an expanded discussion on the rise of populist movements.

Give your students the SAGE edge!

SAGE edge offers a robust online environment featuring an impressive array of free tools and resources for review, study, and further exploration, keeping both instructors and students on the cutting edge of teaching and learning. Learn more at edge.sagepub.com/simon6e.