Engaging Citizenship: An Introduction to Political Science

Engaging Citizenship introduces students to the fundamentals of political science through the lens of citizenship, democracy, and civic engagement. This unique approach aims to help students understand the relevant of political science to their own lives and cultivate the knowledge, skills, values, and habits they need to engage in political life. The text is grounded in three key learning goals: 1) to explore the main subfields of political science, 2) to develop a broad understanding of the U.S. political system within a global context, and 3) to engage with the political process as educated and empowered citizens. The text is divided into four sections-Explaining Statehood, Organizing Political Life, Shaping Participatory Processes, and Challenging the State-to introduce students to the fundamental questions of political science, such as the reasons why citizens join states, the arguments supportive and critical of democracy, and the avenues citizens use to influence state actions. In each section, there are four chapters; each chapter represents one of the four subfields of political science (political theory, comparative politics, American politics, and international relations) and presents its respective theories, concepts, and issues in response to that section's theme. In this way, the text provides a rich and balanced introduction to all four subfields in conversation with one another. The text is accompanied by a series of online civic engagement activities, providing interactive opportunities for students to engage with the themes discussed in each section. In this way, Engaging Citizenship makes it easy for faculty who wish to create opportunities for hands-on learning about citizenship and civic engagement. These activities enable students to practice the skills of effective citizenship and to familiarize themselves with avenues for participation in their communities.