The purpose of this book is to provide a clear and readable introduction to Western political philosophy. It should appeal to those in the UK and USA who recognise the importance of philosophy and are: •interested in acquiring an understanding and overview of the key ideas; •wanting to try to develop and refine their personal political beliefs; and •looking to be stimulated to read more widely and be shown how to readily access interesting and relevant material, especially on the Internet. It is not the intention to promote any particular mix of ideas and values, but to help you to develop and refine the particular political philosophy that works for you, so you may more confidently express and explain it to others. AUTHOR BIO: DR MATT SMITH is a retired academic who has taught politics-related courses in universities for over thirty years. His great love has always been political philosophy and in this book he uses his teaching experience to introduce any interested reader to the subject. 2010 is an excellent year to produce such a book given the substantive political changes that have recently occurred. In political terms, we may be in one of those moments where there is a seismic shift in how our country views itself and our future.