Politics and government books
Politics and government books to start from. Open one to see books like it, or tell BookSense what you loved for four picks made for you.
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New to the genre? These 5 are the books to read first.
The Federalist Papers
Hamilton, Madison, JayA series of essays, first published in 1787 and 1788, defending the proposed US Constitution; still the standard starting point for arguments about separation of powers and federalism.
Democracy in America
Alexis de TocquevilleBased on the author's travels in the United States; the second volume followed in 1840. It examines civic associations, equality and the tendencies of democratic societies.
The Prince
Niccolò MachiavelliWritten in 1513 and published posthumously; a short, direct treatment of how rulers acquire and keep power, and a source of the term 'Machiavellian'.
Who Governs? Democracy and Power in an American City
Robert A. DahlA study of decision-making in New Haven, Connecticut, that set out the pluralist account of power and became a model for empirical political science.
How Democracies Die
Daniel ZiblattExamines how elected leaders in several countries have weakened democratic institutions from within, and proposes warning signs to watch for.
Chosen and described with AI from our notes on the genre.
Reading lists
More politics and government books
- Politics as a Vocation
Politics as a VocationMax Weber - Leviathan
LeviathanThomas Hobbes - Two Treatises of Government
Two Treatises of GovernmentJohn Locke - Politics
PoliticsHarold Dwight Lasswell - The Origins of Totalitarianism
The Origins of TotalitarianismHannah Arendt - Bowling Alone
Bowling AloneRobert D. Putnam - The Logic of Collective Action
The Logic of Collective ActionMancur Olson - Patterns of Democracy
Patterns of DemocracyArend Lijphart - Why Nations Fail
Why Nations FailJames A. Robinson - Introduction to politics & governments
Introduction to politics & governmentsJanet Cook1990 - The case against war
The case against warGeorge Farebrother2003 - Analysis And Debate In Social Policy 2011
Analysis And Debate In Social Policy 2011Gaby Ramia2011
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