Occasionally students contact us asking if there is any required reading prior to the start of their course, or if we could recommend some texts to help them prepare for their first year. Below is a list of books that members of PAIR staff have recommended for students to read during the summer before their first year. While we obviously do not expect you to read all of these books, reading one or two will be a good preparation for your degree and will give you a taste of the kinds of topics you will study on your course.

 

General Politics

On Democracy, by Dahl

Why Politics Matter, by Stoker

In Defence of Politics, by Crick

A Novel Approach to Politics, by Van Belle and Marsh

If Only They Didn’t Speak English: Notes from Trump’s America, by Sopel

 

Public Policy

Nudge, by Thaler and Sunstein

Agendas and Instability in American Politics, by Baumgartner and Jones

 

International Relations

Theories of International Politics and Zombies, by Drezner

States and Markets, by Strange

Activists beyond Borders, by Keck and Sikkink

 

Political Theory

Political Philosophy, by Swift

On Liberty, by Mill

The Prince, by Machiavelli

 

Research Methods

Thinking Statistically, by Bram

 

Political History

The Cold War: A New History, by Gaddis

Ill Fares the Land, by Judt