Geoffrey Ponton and Peter Gill teach at Liverpool John Moores University. Peter Gill is the author of Policing Politics (1993) and Geoffrey Ponton of The Soviet Era (1993).

• List of Figures and Tables. Preface to the third edition.Preface to the second edition.Preface to the third edition.Part I: The Study of Politics:.1. The Meaning and Scope of Politics.2. Approaches and Levels.3. Key Concepts - 1: Power, Authority and Legitimacy.4. Key Concepts - 2: Ideology, Interest and Choice.5. Models in the Study of Politics.6. Models of Democracy - 1: Alternatives.7. Models of Democracy - 2: The Debate.8. The Scope and Responsibility of the State.Part II: The Context of Politics:.9. Political Stability.10. History, Tradition and Myth.11. The Economic and Social Context of Politics.Part III: National Politics in Operation:.12. Party Politics.13. Group Politics.14. Executives.15. Assemblies.16. Executive-Assembly Relations.17. Bureaucracies.18. Laws, Courts and Judges.19. The Police and the Military.Part IV: Supranational and Subnational Politics:.20. Global Politics: Approaches to Analysis: Charlotte Bretherton.21. Global Politics: Processes of Change: Charlotte Bretherton.22. Nationalism, Federalism and Devolution.23. Local Politics.Part V: Links Between Government and People:.24. Legitimacy.25. Political Socialization.26. Representation and Elections.27. Other Forms of Participation.References