Product Description

"Comprehensive, and covers the main ideologies in an interesting way . . . takes a critical and engaging perspective . . . framed in the context of debates around the meaning and purpose of theoretical enquiry . . . a more rewarding read than its competitors."
––Madeleine Davis, Department of Politics, Queen Mary, University of London.


"This book is pitched at a good level for bright and interested undergraduates . . . the combination of ideologies and concepts in one book is a major selling point."
––Professor Paul Taggart, Professor of Politics, University of Sussex


"Pulls off the enviable coup of being scholarly and yet not scary as well as providing genuinely fresh insights for the more familiar reader."
––Dr Peter Handley, School of Political, Social, and International Studies, University of East Anglia


"An outstandingly useful text . . . I look forward to a fifth edition being made available"
––Mark Donovan, Senior Lecturer in Politics, University of Cardiff



Using Political Ideas is a unique blend of political philosophy, political theory and history of political thought. It combines a critique of the major ideologies of recent and contemporary society with an analysis of the ideas that form the very stuff of political debate. By exposing the interplay between ideas and ideologies, it shows why political opponents often speak at cross–purposes and why rational agreement is so hard to achieve in politics.


The fifth edition of this well respected and widely known text will be welcomed by all those interested in questions such as:

∗ Is equality more important than personal freedom?
∗ Does the majority have the right to dictate to the minority in multicultural society?
∗ Is nationalism a progressive force in the world?


With a new chapter on the political ideologies of the twenty–first century, and greater emphasis on contemporary issues such as multiculturalism, citizenship and identity throughout the book, this new edition is the ideal starting point for students and anyone else who needs an introduction to political thought.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #76762 in Books
• Published on: 2007-03-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 456 pages

From the Back Cover
"Comprehensive, and covers the main ideologies in an interesting way . . . takes a critical and engaging perspective . . . framed in the context of debates around the meaning and purpose of theoretical enquiry . . . a more rewarding read than its competitors."
—Madeleine Davis, Department of Politics, Queen Mary, University of London.

"This book is pitched at a good level for bright and interested undergraduates . . . the combination of ideologies and concepts in one book is a major selling point."
—Professor Paul Taggart, Professor of Politics, University of Sussex

"Pulls off the enviable coup of being scholarly and yet not scary as well as providing genuinely fresh insights for the more familiar reader."
—Dr Peter Handley, School of Political, Social, and International Studies, University of East Anglia

"An outstandingly useful text . . . I look forward to a fifth edition being made available"
—Mark Donovan, Senior Lecturer in Politics, University of Cardiff

Using Political Ideas is a unique blend of political philosophy, political theory and history of political thought.  It combines a critique of the major ideologies of recent and contemporary society with an analysis of the ideas that form the very stuff of political debate. By exposing the interplay between ideas and ideologies, it shows why political opponents often speak at cross–purposes and why rational agreement is so hard to achieve in politics.

The fifth edition of this well respected and widely known text will be welcomed by all those interested in questions such as:

• Is equality more important than personal freedom?
• Does the majority have the right to dictate to the minority in multicultural society?
• Is nationalism a progressive force in the world?

With a new chapter on the political ideologies of the twenty–first century, and greater emphasis on contemporary issues such as multiculturalism, citizenship and identity throughout the book, this new edition is the ideal starting point for students and anyone else who needs an introduction to political thought.

About the Author
Barbara Goodwin is Professor of Politics at the University of East Anglia, Norwich. Her books include Justice by Lottery (2nd edn. 2005) and Ethics at Work (2000) and several books on the political importance of utopian ideas. She has broadcast two series of programmes about democracy on the BBC World Service. Her interests range widely in politics, philosophy and social science.

Customer Reviews

Verbose but useful
As a first year Politics student, I'm always using this book. Goodwin is a solid author to quote from and her work is clear and authorative. However, she can be a bit wordy, and this isn't a book you can pick up for five minutes. Despite this, or perhaps because of this, she explores the main political ideas such as liberalism, democracy and fascism with many more and is a must for any student or reader with a keen interest. Worth the money.

Great outline of ideas you thought you understood
I thought I understood the outline of the political beliefs espoused by the different parties in the UK. It turns out that I had at best half understood what I'd heard, or the parties had told half the truth. After having read this I'm a lot clearer.