A prominent political scientist in American academia throughout the second half of the 20th century, Almond gathers 11 essays he wrote mostly during the 1990s. They explore topics he finds suitable for an octogenarian: historical narrative about the political science discipline, reflections about democracy and democratization, and his own education and early career. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Reflecting an extraordinary career, Ventures in Political Science collects Gabriel Almond's most important work on the development of political science and democratic theory. An absorbing introduction--providing personal and historical context--precedes Almond's masterful "History of Political Science." Equally notable are essays on capitalism and democracy, the crisis of political culture in the 1960s, and the history of area studies. Two especially evocative pieces, published here for the first time, compare the cultures of communism and fascism and discuss the background of The Civic Culture study. Significant--and stimulating--this is a not-to-be-missed book for any student of political science.

Silicon Valley has become shorthand for a globally acclaimed way to unleash the creative potential of venture capital, supporting innovation and creating jobs. In The Venture Capital State Robyn Klingler-Vidra traces how and why different states have adopted distinct versions of the Silicon Valley model. Venture capital seeks high rewards but is enveloped in high risk. The author’s deep investigations of venture capital policymaking in East Asian states (Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore) show that success does not reflect policymakers’ ability to replicate the Silicon Valley model. Instead, she argues, performance reflects their skill in adapting a highly lauded model to their local context. Policymakers are "contextually rational" in their learning; their context-rooted norms shape their preferences. The normative context for learning about policy—how elites see themselves and what they deem as locally appropriate—informs how they design their efforts. The Venture Capital State offers a novel conceptualization of rationality, bridging diametrically opposed versions of bounded and conventional rationality. This new understanding of rationality is simultaneously fully informed and context based, and it provides a framework by which analysts can bring domestic factors to the very heart of international diffusion of policy. Klingler-Vidra concludes that states have a visible hand in constituting even quintessentially neoliberal markets.

As essential and accessible introduction and critique of the main types of explantion in political science. Essential reading for students and scholars alike.

Textbook on the theoretics and practice of long term decision making and government policy formulation - describes an interdisciplinary research and systems analysis approach to administrative reform and modernization, considers its potential in the behavioural sciences, social sciences, urban sociology and futures studies, and examines experiences of its programme planning uses in Israel, the Netherlands and the USA. References.

This book explains how field research contributes value to political science by exploring scholars' experiences, detailing exemplary practices, and asserting key principles.

Expand your political science knowledge with a book that explains concepts in a way anyone can understand! The global political climate is dynamic, at times even volatile. To understand this evolving landscape, it’s important to learn more about how countries are governed. Political Science For Dummies explores the questions that political scientists examine, such as how our leaders make decisions, who shapes political policy, and why countries go to war. The book is the perfect course supplement for students taking college-level, introductory political science courses. Political Science For Dummies is a guide that makes political science concepts easier to grasp. Get a better understanding of political ideologies, institutions, policies, processes, and behavior Explore topics such as class, government, diplomacy, law, strategy, and war Learn the specialized vocabulary within the field of political science Help prepare for a range of careers, from policy analyst to legislative assistant Political science crosses into many other areas of study, such as sociology, economics, history, anthropology, international relations, law, statistics, and public policy. Those who want to understand the implications of changing political economies or how governing bodies work can look to Political Science For Dummies. It’s the book thatcuts through the jargon as it focuses on issues that interest readers.