'This is a excellent, timely and comprehensive series of reflections on key issues in teaching politics and international relations. The chapters examine questions raised by teaching controversial issues such as race, international terrorism, theory, as well as the matter of political bias, use of new technologies and assessment practices. The book considers pedagogical issues in a theoretical and practical way, particularly helpful in the current political climate. It represents an excellent synthesis of a generic 'teaching skills' handbook with the specificities of teaching politics and IR. Given the increasing significance of teaching and learning across the HE sector, the new university fees regime, growing awareness of the employability agenda and of 'student satisfaction' surveys, this book constitutes a practical manual for reflecting on our teaching and learning methods and, even more importantly, provides a series of gentle, practical and helpful nudges - focused on specific issues of common concern in political science and IR. Professional self-interest demands that political science and IR colleagues think about the issues raised in this unique book.'
- Inderjeet Parmar, Professor and Chair of British International Studies Association
'This volume, focused on teaching and learning issues in the discipline area of Politics and IR, is greatly to be welcomed. As the editors point out, books on this subject are remarkably few and this at a time when the changing fees regime means that all Politics Departments will have to pay increased attention to teaching issues. Readers will find here the whole array of topics from what is distinctive about the teaching of Politics and IR, to the management of lectures and small group teaching, and the timely question of the particular challenges of teaching topics like 'race' and 'terrorism'. The authors draw on considerable background experience, and indeed include more than one winner of the Political Studies Association's Bernard Crick award for teaching. In sum, this book will be extremely helpful not only for those just setting out on their teaching careers but for all political studies teachers with an inclination to reflect upon their teaching approach and to keep up with relevant developments.'
- Vicky Randall, Emeritus Professor and President of the Political Studies Association, UK
'This book quickly captured my attention. Graduate students and junior faculty, as well as senior faculty will benefit from reading the thoughtfully crafted chapters in this volume. Gormley-Heenan and Lightfoot, do an excellent job bringing together well-known scholars to address perennial as well as new debates regarding the teaching of politics. The authors not only situate the issues historically leading up to the current state of the field, but also include suggestions with direct classroom applicability. I found this book quite thought provoking. It encouraged me to critically reassess my own teaching practices.'
- Carolyn M. Shaw, Wichita State University, USA
