Brief, accessible, and sophisticated, Analyzing Politics, Fifth Edition, presents a clear outline of the discipline of political science and helps students understand the practical and immediate uses of applying analytical approaches to the study of politics.

This textbook is notable for its early coverage of methods and theory and the use of a case study approach--introduced and used to acquire in-depth information about a particular subject while also pointing to its limitations. While the text covers fundamental concepts with contemporary, political examples, discussions of feminism and environmentalism offer a distinct departure from other texts and a unique opportunity to professors and students of political science.

In this edition, new chapter opening examples highlight recent controversies that will spark student interest, frame core concepts of the chapter, and illustrate to students how politics is about their lives. Ethical discussions take place throughout the textbook. Ellen Grigsby does not offer easy answers but rather presents the issues in such a way that students must think carefully and critically about them. Sophisticated concepts are introduced in an accessible and non-threatening manner. Grigsby explicitly connects concepts to real life so that students fully understand the complex topics presented and see how political decision-making shapes their own lives.