Eisfeld's analysis of political science and its limits offers a bold framework for reforming
the discipline in this century. Eisfeld asks us to look at foundational issues of democracy in
the broadest possible terms. -Dianne Pinderhughes former APSA President University of Notre
Dame Of major significance for the debate over 21st century political science impressive in
its intellectual scope.-Marian Sawer former AAPSA President Australian National University An
intellectual commitment to 'thinking big' and a bold vision of the social sciences' 'promise'
- freeing citizens from feeling trapped through public engagement.-Matthew Flinders former PSA
President University of Sheffield A remarkable project pulled off with a grace and balance
that belie the complexity and controversy of the issues Eisfeld addresses. -Leslie A. Pal
former CPSA Board Member Carleton University Ottawa This book is the first comprehensive
study to respond to the ongoing debates on political sciences's fragmentation doubtful
relevance and disconnect with the larger public. It explores the implications of the argument
that political science ought to become more topic-driven more relevant and more comprehensible
for lay audiences. Consequences would include evolving a culture of public engagement
challenging tendencies toward liars' rule and emphasizing the role of large themes in academic
education and research the latter being identified as those areas where severe democratic
erosion is occurring - such as escalating income and wealth disparities pushing democracy
towards plutocracy ubiquitous change triggering insecurity and aggression racist prejudice
polarizing societies and counter-terrorism strategies subverting civil liberties. Political
science needs to address these pressing problems ahead of other issues by in-depth research and
broadly accessible public narratives including solution-orientated normative notions. This
need provides the final justification for evolving a discipline where problems would take
priority over methods and public relevance over sophisticated specialization. Rainer Eisfeld
Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Osnabrück University Germany taught at UCLA as a
Visiting Professor. He has represented IPSA's research committees on the IPSA Executive
Committee and has also served on the Board of Trustees of the Buchenwald Mittelbau-Dora
Concentration Camp Memorial.
