The textbook was written by a team of authors consisting of professors from the Department of Political Science of the Baltic State Technical University (BSTU) "VOENMEH" and other universities in St. Petersburg. The head of the team of authors is Honored Worker of Higher Education, Head of the Department of Political Science at BSTU, Professor B. A. Isaev. The publication is intended for bachelors of political science and contains all the necessary semantic units for the initial stage of studying political science. It outlines such important topics for understanding the theoretical foundations of politics as “Methodology of political science”, “Theories of power, political elites and the state”, “Theories of interest groups and civil society”, “Political systems and regimes”, “Theories of political culture and ideology”, “Theories of political parties and party systems”, “Theories of the political process, political conflicts, political development and modernization”, “Theories of world politics and geopolitics”. The textbook complies with the State Educational Standard of the third generation and is distinguished by its novelty and representativeness. The new State Standard also expands students’ opportunities for self-preparation and self-education: after each chapter there are lists of basic concepts, questions for self-control and literature for independently expanding and deepening knowledge on this topic.