Political Ideologies: Their Origins and Impact

by Leon P. Baradat, John A Phillips, John A. Phillips

Book Overview

Organized chronologically, this book explains the evolution of political thought over the past three centuries and describes political ideologies in the context of the social, economic, and political circumstances in which they developed. It provides readers with a complete understanding of political ideologies and how these concepts relate to their own lives. New problems that demand solutions have arisen, and we need a firm understanding of our...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0130359327
• ISBN13: 9780130359322
• Release Date: January 1994
• Publisher: Prentice Hall
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.

Customer Reviews

great book

I'm actually thinking about taking his class next year and i'm going to keep this book for reference. Well written.

Well written

As an introduction to the topic, I think that this book is excellently written. The only problem is that the author gives his opinion in so many places. I think it is good for an author to state his opinion and explain it to people, but not in a book that is an introduction to a topic. In introductions it would be better to let the reader just know about the topic since it is too early for him/her to have an opinion about it. However, the author did explain most ideologies and he was fair in treating them. He did not attack ideologies that were not his own. The book clearly explains most ideologies and the author brings into the discussion economic, political and philosophical issues in a coherent way. Had he not been so opinionated I would have given this book five stars.

awesome book

while admittedly the writer has a particularly left wing stance the book is very well written and easy to pick up. the chapters are well organized and most topics are written very nonpartisan.

I Still Keep Referring to This Book

I keep going back to this book in all my political readings. It succinctly categorizes the major ideologies, gives brief histories, and places them in the larger picture to make the whole of political ideology more digestible. In the process, it clarifies left/right labels and dispels many of the myths that the general public has, infected by spin machines and AM radio.I personally didn't see a pro-Marxist tilt in the book. Yet many of us who have grown up in Cold War McCarthyite America may reflexively call any book that vaguely mentions Karl Marx without dismissing him right off as "pro-Marxist."Baradat is at his best when he steps back and shows each ideology as being part of the ebb and flow of history, of revolution and counter-revolution."Political Ideologies" works well as a board to dive into heavier works.

Excellent Resource

This book is a great introduction to a large spectrum of our most basic political ideologies. It will help you make sense of the political debates of the day so you really understand what everyone is mouthing about. My sense of why this book seems liberal is that because when you view Conservatism in light of many other ideologies it's not the loveliest of them all. It is clearly written and easy to read. I used the 3rd edition in college (my god has it been that long?)And by the way, if you are expecting a Social Security check during your retirement, you are a socialist!