Politics can feel overwhelming, especially in a world where the pace of change makes it harder to grasp what's really going on. In his new book 'How to Think about Politics: A Guide in Five Parts’ , published by Oxford University Press (OUP), Prof. Peter Allen from our Department of Politics, Languages & International Studies argues that instead of getting lost in the chaos of day-to-day events, we should return to the fundamentals.

By focusing on five core ideas—power, representation, knowledge, interests, and possibility—Allen offers readers practical tools to better understand political events and interrogate their own political choices. We spoke to Prof. Allen about what inspired the book, how these ideas apply to everyday life, and how readers can feel more confident engaging with politics.

What prompted you to write How to Think About Politics when you wrote it?

I was born in the late 1980s and grew up in a time when politics seemed focused on making things better. While naive, it felt like people my age had a relatively positive political experience until the 2008 financial crisis. As I completed my degrees and became a lecturer, I maintained this optimistic outlook. But by late 2019, after years of crisis—Trump, Brexit, austerity—it seemed almost laughable to continue to hold on to that narrative. Around that time, a friend asked what advice I, as a political scientist, could offer. This book is my answer.

You write that politics can feel overwhelming—how does your book help people make sense of it?

Politics feels overwhelming because it's often framed as distant—something happening in Westminster, Washington, or Brussels. But in my book, I argue politics is much closer to home, embedded in our workplaces, relationships, and daily routines. From shopping trips to school pick-ups to public transport, politics shapes our lives in ways we don't always recognise. My book shows how these everyday experiences connect to broader political ideas.

Those big political ideas you focus on are power, representation, knowledge, interests, and possibility. Why do you think these ideas help readers think more systematically about politics?

After years of teaching politics, I've found that certain ideas underpin much of the subject. Whether discussing voter turnout, parliamentary committees, or research methods, the same questions arise: Who holds power? Whose knowledge is valued? Who's in the room making decisions? What do people want? And what possibilities are seen as realistic? These ideas kept surfacing in my teaching, so I built the book around them as practical tools for understanding politics.

Could you give an example of a recent political event that can be understood using these ideas?

The climate crisis illustrates these ideas well. Powerful vested interests have influenced politicians, slowing climate action. Democratic representatives have failed to respond with appropriate urgency. Meanwhile, direct action groups like Just Stop Oil reflect individuals learning something new that compels them to act. Both climate activists and deniers are engaged in shaping what is seen as politically possible.

What’s the key message that you hope readers take away from the book?

I hope readers feel more confident engaging with politics. These ideas—power, representation, knowledge, interests, and possibility—are part of our everyday lives. We see power at work in our jobs and homes; we gain knowledge that moves us to act; we speak for others and have others speak for us; we make decisions by weighing priorities; and we tell stories to shape perceptions. Politics isn’t distant or exclusive—it’s something we all experience.

Join Peter Allen in conversation with Aditya Chakrabortty, senior economics commentator for the Guardian, on Tuesday 25 March 2025 5.30PM – 6.30PM at the University of Bath Claverton Down campus. This event marks the launch of mark the launch of 'How to Think about Politics: A Guide in Five Parts'. Spaces are limited and must be reserved in advance.