Political theory is one of the three pillars of the discipline of political science. It raises central questions about democracy, society and politics and presents answers to them with the help of methods from the social sciences and humanities. This volume provides an introduction to current methods and debates in political theory, discusses their relevance with a focus on democratic theory, and considers possible fields of application. This introduction to political theory thus not only offers basic information about theory and outlines current research perspectives in democratic theory, but also serves as a guide to the practical application of theoretical knowledge.