This fully revised and updated fourth edition of an extremely successful text in this scientific field examines the basic traditions in political thought while relating them to the modern world.

Each chapter discusses a group of related terms and concepts, shedding light on how they are used by different thinkers and schools of thought. The book systematically builds understanding of both classical and contemporary theory by examining a wide range of important thinkers, from Aristotle, Rousseau, Marx, and Mill to the present day. This edition further covers the global dimensions of political thought - with a new chapter on international issues such as security and war - and non-Western approaches to political conflicts and disputes.