Playing Politics: The Nightmare Continues
This short, assessible work is for anyone interested in understanding the basic laws or dynamics of politics by engaging in safe (risk-free) political activity (as opposed to real-world politics). The author (political science, Trinity Coll., Dublin) has assembled a collection of games he created over 20 years of teaching. Field-tested with students in five different countries, the games move the players from basic political quandaries (individual survival in a competitive environment) to more sophisticated ones (committee policy-making) to team-oriented activities based on traditional games like soccer that mimic the conflicts and motivations of nation-states. The author supplies the rules, suggests the materials needed (dice, cards, money, etc.), and offers words of encouragement, but the fun and learning are left to the players. Not simply to be read, these games work must be played to be appreciated, and anyone can play. Recommended for all public libraries.?Thomas J. Baldino, Wilkes Univ., Pa.Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.