A novel approach to politics : introducing political science through books, movies, and popular culture / Douglas A. Van Belle, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introducing the ancient debate: The ideal versus the real -- Why government? Security, anarchy, and some basic group dynamics -- Governing society: We know who you are -- Government's role in the economy: The offer you can't refuse -- Structures and institutions -- El Grande Loco Casa Blanca: The executive (in bad Spanish) -- The confederacy of dunces: The legislative function (not in bad Spanish) -- Brazilian bureaucracy: Do I even need to bother with the jokes? -- Courts and law: Politics behind the gavel, obviously, but what's under the gown? -- Not quite right, but still good: The Democratic ideal in modern politics -- Media, politics, and government: Talking heads are better than none -- International politics: Apocalypse now and then -- Secret government: Spies, lies, and freedom fries -- Political culture: Sex and agriculture, getting rucked explains it all -- The lastest and bestest chapter: The study of politics.

"This is a textbook students want to read. A Novel Approach to Politics turns the conventional textbook wisdom on its head by using pop culture references to illustrate key concepts and cover recent political events. Adopters of previous editions, from schools all over the country, are thanking author Douglas A. Van Belle for some of their best student evaluations to date. With this Sixth Edition, Van Belle brings the book fully up-to-date with recent events, current policy debates, international happenings, and other assorted intergalactic matters. Understanding politics requires a willingness to engage with ideas, arguments, and information that makes you uncomfortable, Van Belle takes the most tumultuous political periods in recent history head-on. Somehow, he weaves in recent movies and books into the text as he works in a solid foundation in institutions, ideology, and economics controversies into all that sizzle, which is certain to captivate students"-- Provided by publisher.