Mathematics and Politics

This revised book teaches humanities majors the accessibility and beauty of discrete and deductive mathematics. It assumes no prior knowledge of either college-level mathematics or political science, and could be offered at the freshman or sophomore level.

The author is a recognized expert in applying ideas in modern mathematics to problems in international conflict resolution. Intended for non-specialists and requiring only introductory mathematics, the quantitative methods are presented in strongly applied settings for political science and the social sciences.

Two new chapters on Fairness and More Fairness have been added Examples and exercises have been updated and enhanced throughout

Klappentext

Mathematics and Politics requires no prerequisites in either subject. The underlying philosophy involves minimizing algebraic computations while focusing on the conceptual aspects of mathematics in the context of real-world questions in political science. This new addition has an added co-author, Allison Pacelli, and covers six major topics: social choice, yes-no voting systems, political power, game-theoretic models of international conflict, fairness, and escalation. In addition to having two new chapters (treating apportionment and conflict resolution), the text has been extensively reorganized and the number of exercises increased to over 300.

EXCERPTS FROM REVIEWS OF THE FIRST EDITION

"Taylor has done a remarkable job of showing the power of deductive reasoning in the strategic choices actors make in conflict situations a penetrating analysis of both real-life and hypothetical situations."

-- Steven Brams, New York University

Alan Taylor's book is carefully crafted. He is ever aware of his audience, but relentlessly presses the beginning student to understand more and more."

-- Samuel Merrill III, American Mathematical Monthly

This book is a unique and valuable source Coverage is thorough and extensive; ideas are explained clearly and at an appropriate mathematical level."

-- Ed Packel, Lake Forest College

" Mathematics and Politics is a nearly perfect solution, either for classes or for the serious professional who wants to retool. The writing is crisp, and the sense of excitement about learning mathematics is seductive."

-- Michael Munger, Chance

" I like this book. It's nice mathematics with serious applications."

-- John Ewing, Indiana University

"Now we have, in Alan Taylor's book, an introduction to these ideas that is delightfully lucid and requiresalmost no mathematical prerequisites."

-- Phillip D. Straffin, College Mathematics Journal

"[The book] breaks new ground and could stand as the definitive undergraduate textbook in this area for quite some time."

-- Stan Wagon, Macalester College

Zusammenfassung
Questionslikethesequitesurprisinglyprovideaveryniceforumfor some fundamental mathematical activities: symbolic representation and manipulation, modeltheoretic analysis, quantitative represen- tionandcalculation,anddeductionasembodiedinthepresentationof mathematical proof as convincing argument.

Inhalt
Social Choice.- YesNo Voting.- Political Power.- Conflict.- Fairness.- Escalation.- More Social Choice.- More YesNo Voting.- More Political Power.- More Conflict.- More Fairness.- More Escalation.