A Political Theory Primer

by Peter C. Ordeshook

Overview

First published in 1992, A Political Theory Primer is designed as an introductory course for students in the application of game theory to modeling political processes. Examining those very phenomena that power political machineries—elections, legislative and committee processes, and international conflict—the book attempts to answer fundamental questions about their nature and function.

Included at the end of each chapter is a set of exercises designed to allow students to practice the construction and analysis of political models. Although the text assumes only training at the basic algebra level, the student who completes a course around this text will be equipped to read nearly all the professional literature that makes use of game-theoretic analysis. Each chapter also contains suggestiosn for further reading for those students who want to broaden their learning and expertise.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415902410
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	05/14/1992
Edition description:	Older Edition
Pages:	334
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Peter C. Ordeshook is Professor of Political Science at California Institute of Technology.

Table of Contents

1. Representation of Political Processes 2. Analysis of Extensive Form Games 3. Analysis of Strategic Form Games 4. Some Special Political Games 5. Games with Incomplete Information 6. Cooperation and Coalitions

Editorial Reviews

"Full of examples ranging from the most basic to those at the forefront of current research in political science, [A Political Theory Primer] provides an introduction to some of the elementary game-theoretic ideas and applications that are re-shaping our understanding of many problems in political science adn the social sciences more broadly."
—Robert Powell, University of California, Berkeley

From the Publisher