Book excerpt: Focusing on strong pro and con viewpoints of controversial political issues, this introduction to politics uses a debate format that encourages discussion of the issues addressed. It examines 26 controversial issues of great complexity and importance - some of long-standing concern, and some of more recent relevance - including the questions, "Is government avoidable?", "Is Socialism better than Capitalism?", "Does TV news have a unique impact on public opinion?", "Should the West redistribute its wealth to Third World countries?" For historians and political scientists.