Political Economy: A Comparative Approach [Paperback]

Barry Stewart Clark (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0275936848 | ISBN-13: 978-0275936846 | Publication Date: April 1991

A revised edition of the comprehensive overview of political/economic thought, political theory, sociology, and philosophy, integrated with political theory. Clark offers an introduction to the method and history of political economy, along with comparative studies of classical liberalism, radicalism, conservatism and modern liberalism.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“...[H]e has produced a thoughtful volume suitable for use in undergraduate classes and reading economists generally. lower division undergraduate through faculty collections.”–Choice

“...useful for all who are concerned with taking stock of "the state of the discipline" as a step toward the reconstruction and further development of a radical alternative appropriate for the twenty-first century.”–Review of Radical Political Economics --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

BARRY CLARK is Professor of Economics and former Department Chairperson at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Product Details

• Paperback: 313 pages
• Publisher: Praeger Pub (April 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0275936848
• ISBN-13: 978-0275936846
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,877,005 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent introduction to political economy, July 23, 2001

By 

Samuel Freeman - See all my reviews

This review is from: Political Economy: A Comparative Approach, Second Edition (Paperback)

A truly superb book! Clark is kinder to economists in the Introduction to the 2nd ed. than he was in the 1st ed., though his criticisms of economists for their pretense of being "value free" and "objective" probably was more accurate in the 1st ed. We'll find unicorns grazing in the flower bed before we find value free and objective economists, or value free and objective science for that matter.

The 1st 2 chapters read very much like a text book and may be difficult to wade through for those with minimal backgrounds in economics and political science. But this should not discourage readers as Clark's discission of the 4 major schools of political economic thought--Classical Liberalism, Radicalism, Classical Conservatism, and Modern Liberalism--is excellent. Though relatively succinct and written at an "introductory" level, Clark does an excellent job of laying out the fundamentals of each of the 4 schools of thought as well as the evolution of thinking within each school through summary discussions of the "architects" of each school. He then offers a brief and very fair critique or each school of thought. For those unfamiliar with the diversity of political-economic thought, which is most people (and, sadly, certainly includes virtually everyone who majored or minored in "business school" economics in college), these 4 chapters alone make the book worthwhile reading .

But for most readers, the real forte of the book comes in Part III in which Clark examines the major issues in political economy today; such as, inflation, unemployment, poverty, inequality, labor, minorities (to include women within the political-economic arena), education, culture, the enviornment, and international trade. Within each of these areas, Clark identifies the arguments of each of the 4 schools of political economic thought in terms of what each sees as the roots of the issue, the nature of the issue today, and what should and/or should not be done about it.

For someone looking for a relatively brief examination of these issues, which gives a genuinely fair presentation of diverse and competing views, there simply is no other book published today. One important strenght of Clark's work is it does explode the myth of economics as a "science", as well as the myths of the discipline of economics being value free and not grounded in ideology, and the myth there is some kind of general consensus among economists.

Regardless of a person's political-economic ideological orientation, readers will become more aware and more appreciative of alternative and competing points of view. And they will be able to see more easily what passes for "economic" reporting and analysis in the news media and by government officials is little more than propaganda--the promulgation of the favored econmic world view as truth. This is extremely important because, even (especially) for those who agree with "mainstream" economic analysis, there are numerous dangerers in falling into the trap of believing the fundamental ideological/value questions of economics and the relationship between the economic and political system have been asked, answered, and agreed upon. Such tunnel vision is a prescription for disaster which Clark's book can help us avoid. So put on the hip boots; wade through the 1st two chapters (heavy but necessary); and then enjoy.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best break down of political economy ever!, February 10, 2008

By 

Runamuck (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Political Economy: A Comparative Approach, Second Edition (Paperback)

This book gives the best break down of the political and economic thoughts that are currently being used in academia. This book gives a general synopsis of all the current thoughts that are out there, as well as those that were prominent in the past. This book does not take sides nor does it argue for a specific ideological path, it just gives the main arguments that each discipline promotes. The book then applies each of these discipline's thoughts to major areas such as labor. This is the perfect book for those that want to learn more about political economy without having to wade through the propaganda of the different ideologies.

Easy to read one does not need a college degree to understand the concepts in this book. The author breaks down these complex ideologies and theories into simple to understand descriptions. Important for all to read, and even the layman can understand fully the key terms that are being thrown around on the nightly news.

5.0 out of 5 stars the easiest way to learn, May 6, 2011

By 

fawzan - See all my reviews

This review is from: Political Economy: A Comparative Approach, Second Edition (Paperback)

If you want to know the subject in the easiest way with lowest working a hours, this book will do for you