Political Ideologies: Their Origins and Impact

I'm actually thinking about taking his class next year and i'm going to keep this book for reference. Well written.

As an introduction to the topic, I think that this book is excellently written. The only problem is that the author gives his opinion in so many places. I think it is good for an author to state his opinion and explain it to people, but not in a book that is an introduction to a topic. In introductions it would be better to let the reader just know about the topic since it is too early for him/her to have an opinion about it. However, the author did explain most ideologies and he was fair in treating them. He did not attack ideologies that were not his own. The book clearly explains most ideologies and the author brings into the discussion economic, political and philosophical issues in a coherent way. Had he not been so opinionated I would have given this book five stars.

while admittedly the writer has a particularly left wing stance the book is very well written and easy to pick up. the chapters are well organized and most topics are written very nonpartisan.

I keep going back to this book in all my political readings. It succinctly categorizes the major ideologies, gives brief histories, and places them in the larger picture to make the whole of political ideology more digestible. In the process, it clarifies left/right labels and dispels many of the myths that the general public has, infected by spin machines and AM radio.I personally didn't see a pro-Marxist tilt in the book. Yet many of us who have grown up in Cold War McCarthyite America may reflexively call any book that vaguely mentions Karl Marx without dismissing him right off as "pro-Marxist."Baradat is at his best when he steps back and shows each ideology as being part of the ebb and flow of history, of revolution and counter-revolution."Political Ideologies" works well as a board to dive into heavier works.

This book is a great introduction to a large spectrum of our most basic political ideologies. It will help you make sense of the political debates of the day so you really understand what everyone is mouthing about. My sense of why this book seems liberal is that because when you view Conservatism in light of many other ideologies it's not the loveliest of them all. It is clearly written and easy to read. I used the 3rd edition in college (my god has it been that long?)And by the way, if you are expecting a Social Security check during your retirement, you are a socialist!