A concise yet comprehensive introduction to the Western political thought from the Ancient Greeks to the 21st century, INVENTORS OF IDEAS connects major thinkers' political and societal views to a larger understanding of current politics. Covering the traditional canon of writers while also reflecting a concern or emphasis upon the role of gender and science in western political thought, the book gives students practical and historical foundations with which to look at contemporary social and political issues.

Donald G. Tannenbaum teaches Political Philosophy at Gettysburg College. He is the Founding Editor of COMMONWEALTH: A JOURNAL OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, has written widely for scholarly books, journals, and symposia, served as consultant to the Jacob K. Javits Fellowship Program Review Board of the United States Department of Education and to a number of Political Science departments, and been President of the Northeastern Political Science Association (1993-1994) and the Pennsylvania Political Science Association (1988-1990). Professor Tannenbaum received his Ph.D. in Politics from New York University, which named him a University Honors Scholar. In 2002, he was honored with an American Political Science Association/Pi Sigma Alpha citation recognizing him as a recipient of a campus-wide teaching award, which he attributes, in part, to his use of this text in several of his classes. In 2011, he was named chair of the Hubert H. Humphrey Award Committee by the Council of the American Political Science Association.

David Schultz is professor in the Graduate School of Public Administration and Management at Hamline University and he holds appointments as an adjunct professor of law at Hamline University, University of Minnesota, and the University of St. Thomas. He has a Ph.D. in Political Science and a J.D. from the University of Minnesota. Professor Schultz is the author or editor of 16 books and over forty articles. His most recent publications include LEVERAGING THE LAW: USING THE COURTS TO ACHIEVE SOCIAL CHANGE (1998), THE POLITICS OF CIVIL SERVICE REFORM (1998); IT'S SHOW TIME! MEDIA, POLITICS, AND POPULAR CULTURE (2000); ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AMERICAN LAW (2002); SOCIAL CAPITAL: CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON COMMUNITY AND BOWLING ALONE (2002); and MONEY, POLITICS, AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM LAW IN THE STATES (2002).