Mathematics and Politics: Strategy, Voting, Power, and Proof [Hardcover]

Alan Taylor (Author), Allison M. Pacelli (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 5, 2008

As a text for an undergraduate mathematics course for nonmajors, Mathematics and Politics requires no prerequisites in either area while the underlying philosophy involves minimizing algebraic computations and focusing instead on some conceptual aspects of mathematics in the context of important real-world questions in political science. Five major topics are covered including a model of escalation, game theoretic models of international conflict, yes-no voting systems, political power, and social choice. Each topic is discussed in an introductory chapter and revisited in more depth in a later chapter. This new edition has added co-author, Allison Pacelli, and two new chapters on "Fairness" and "More Fairness." The examples and the exercises have been updated and enhanced throughout. Reviews from first edition: This book is well written and has much math of interest. While it is pitched at a non-math audience there is material here that will be new and interesting to the readers... -Sigact News   For mathematicians, Taylor's book shows how the social sciences make use of mathematical thinking, in the form of axiomatic systems, and offers a chance to teach this kind of thinking to our students. - The College Mathematics Journal The writing is crisp and the sense of excitement about learning mathematics is seductive. The political conflict examples are well thought out and clear. -Michael C. Munger

Editorial Reviews

Review

From the reviews of the second edition: “Mathematics and Politics is the fruit of undergraduate mathematics courses taught by the authors. The primary audience is political and social science majors. … The writing style is appropriate for the intended audience with the understanding that the students/readers have some familiarity with political science economics or sociology. … Overall the book serves as a useful quantitative introduction to several of the covered topics. … Faculty in the social sciences should strongly consider Mathematics and Politics as a resource/reference.” (J. Douglas Barrett, Technometrics, Vol. 53 (1), February, 2011)

From the Back Cover

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 requires almost 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

Product Details

• Hardcover: 380 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 2nd edition (September 5, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0387776435
• ISBN-13: 978-0387776439
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #860,123 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good read, with some fascinating insights, April 12, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Mathematics and Politics: Strategy, Voting, Power, and Proof (Textbooks in Mathematical Sciences) (Paperback)

Lucidly written exposition with stress on concepts rather than notation manipulation. Dollar auctions, Arrow's theorem, Power indices were especially interesting reading. Probably the best place for a layman to get the dope on Arrow's impossibility theorem. Does get a bit tedious in some spots with some numerical permutations, but on the whole, I recommend it highly.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful beginning but blurred endings, January 23, 2011

By 

N. Ramanathan "LineIntegral" (Cleveland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mathematics and Politics: Strategy, Voting, Power, and Proof (Hardcover)

Beginning chapters are lucid with examples - but towards the end of book, things get rather cloudy - and at the fag end it's almost impossible when the author arrives at the Impossibility Theorem of Kenneth Arrow! Looks like somebody hurried up the author to finsh the book and dash it off to the press!