In this highly readable and engaging book, Alexa Ipsas teases out the implications of classic studies in social psychology for enhancing our understanding of major topics in politics: influence and persuasion, crowd behaviour, leadership, and the psychology of authoritarian regimes. Based on a distinctive social identity perspective, her analysis provides an insightful and original contribution to the burgeoning field of political psychology. - Peter Bull, Department of Psychology, University of York, UK I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It offers one of the most lucid, accessible, incisive, and appealing introductions to social identity theory currently available. - John Jost, Department of Psychology, New York University, USA This book greatly expands the application of social identity theory to political psychology. Social identity theory is used to reinterpret findings on obedience to authority, crowd behavior, and leadership providing a unique and intriguing perspective on these topics. Many of the case studies in the book, such as Mahatma Gandhi's use of civil disobedience, are important cases that have not received much attention in political psychology. The book is well-designed for the classroom and would be an excellent addition to courses in political psychology. - Martha Cottam, Department of Political Science, Washington State University, USA.