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

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

This revised book teaches humanities majors the accessibility and beauty of discrete and deductive mathematics. It assumes no prior knowledge of either college-level mathematics or political science, and could be offered at the freshman or sophomore level.