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Introduction to American Government
Preface
Economics, Ideology, and Politics
The need persists for widespread mastery of
the political system John Quincy Adams once described as “the most
complicated on the face of the globe.” To this end, we offer
today’s students a comprehensive, readable, and balanced study
of the context, structure, and process of American
politics. A distinguishing feature of this book is the
explicit recognition that economics and ideology significantly influence
American politics.
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No student or instructor in a course on American
government is immune to the ideological and economic forces that help
shape the perennial pursuit of power in a democracy. Nor is any class
or instructor untouched by recurring problems ranging from budget
deficits and health care to unemployment and the underclass. Economics
and ideology, in one way or another, intersect nearly all of them.
This text highlights the importance of economics
and ideology in the context of American government
in several ways. Chapter 14, “Public Policy and Economics” explores the
relationship between politics and economics, as does a series of “Politics
and Economics” boxes (described below) throughout the rest of
the book. Students see how economic decisions
have political consequences and how political decisions affect the
economy. This is essential
information in a day when economic topics frequently
dominate electoral campaigns, television news, and conversation at
the dinner table.
However, the text assumes no prior knowledge
of economics, and references to economic policy are free of confusing
jargon.
Understanding differences among political beliefs
is likewise essential at a time when the labels “liberal” and “conservative,” “left” and “right” are
hurled about. Such terms can be baffling, particularly because their
meaning has not been constant. Consequently, the text underscores
the importance of political ideology—the ideas people have about
what government should or should not do and what kind of government
they should have. This emphasis is reflected in a series of “Politics
and Ideas” boxes (described below), in Chapter 4, “Political
Ideologies,” and in Chapter 5, “Public Opinion and Political
Participation.” Chapter 4 is nearly unique among shorter volumes
on American government because it draws a road map that guides students
through intellectual debates, past and present, in American politics.
Additionally, Chapter 3, “Civil Liberties and Civil Rights” probes
ideological distinctions among Americans concerning
fundamental freedoms. Such an encompassing survey of the spectrum
of political ideas encourages
students both to comprehend and to tolerate points
of view other than their own, enabling them to gain further insight
into political differences
that exist nationwide.
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