What is politics? - Jef Huysmans

Politics matters, to all of us. This brief and engaging new book shows why. Avoiding jargon, it reveals that politics is both broad in scope and critical to our lives. Places and events that are not normally thought of as being 'political' - well beyond parliament and even government - are explored through provocative case materials. The book shows how politics has an impact on our everyday lives, and that our everyday lives are themselves 'political'. The arguments are presented in a highly reader-friendly style. The importance of politics is drawn out through stories, dialogues, and press cuttings about the specific case of refugees and asylum seeking in the UK and beyond. In turn, the book links the politics of asylum seeking back to ordinary, familiar situations which we can all recognize. The result is a genuinely original and accessible invitation to thinking about politics for students and curious general readers.Key Features:*A concise introduction to Politics which shows how it is relevant to our everyday lives*Uses the topical case study of refugees and asylum-seeking to demonstrate how political decisions works in practice*Stories, dialogues and press-cuttings enliven the text