With its foundational approach to learning, Dooley/Pattens WHY POLITICS MATTERS: AN INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL SCIENCE, 4th EDITION, shows students the "big picture" as it explores political theory, comparative politics, the U.S. government and international relations. The authors combine theory and practice and use current, global examples to illustrate why politics is important to readers -- and explain how they can get involved. In-depth analyses of the current state of global affairs include the rise of populism, nationalism, political misinformation, the January 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol, the Russian-Ukraine war, U.S. relations with China, voting rights, the role of women in politics, abortion rights post-Dobbs, student debt and the Biden v. Nebraska (2023) decision, the impact of climate change on international relations and more.