ABSTRACT

Poli Sci Fi: An Introduction to Political Science through Science Fiction allows readers, students, and instructors to explore the multiple worlds of science fiction while gaining a firm grasp of core political science concepts. This carefully composed text is comprised of sixteen brief chapters, each of which takes a prominent science fiction film or television episode and uses it to explore fundamental components of political science. The book is designed to serve as a supplemental text for undergraduate political science courses, especially Introduction to Political Science. The structure and content of the volume is shaped around the organization and coverage of several leading texts in this area, and includes major parts devoted to theory and epistemology, political behavior, institutions, identity, states, and inter-state relations. Its emphasis on science fiction—and particularly on popular movies and television programs—speaks to the popularity of the genre as well as the growing understanding that popular culture can be an extraordinarily successful vehicle for communicating difficult yet foundational concepts, especially to introductory level college students.

chapter |8 pages

Introduction

Science Fiction as a Tool of Political Science

part |26 pages

Theory and Epistemology

chapter |12 pages

Improving Public Policy

Measurement and Prediction in Minority Report

chapter |12 pages

Equilibrium

If Game Theorists Ruled the World?

part |39 pages

Political Behavior

chapter |13 pages

Service Guarantees Citizenship

Starship Troopers and Democracy

chapter |12 pages

Idiocracy

Do you need to be informed to vote in a democracy?

chapter |12 pages

One Choice Can Transform You

Political Ideology and Culture in Divergent

part |65 pages

Political Institutions

chapter |14 pages

Are You Divergent?

Political Factions and Personal Identity

chapter |11 pages

The Bureaucratic Mind of Hermes Conrad

Administrative Behavior in Futurama

part |27 pages

Identity

chapter |12 pages

“We Shall Overcome”

The Districts of Panem and Identity Politics in The Hunger Games

part |27 pages

Inter-state Relations

chapter |11 pages

Buggers and Astronauts

Ethics and Security in Ender's Game