Facing the challenge of democracy : explorations in the analysis of public opinion and political participation / edited by Paul M. Sniderman and Benjamin Highton.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Sniderman, Paul M.

Highton, Benjamin.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Political participation--United States.

Political participation.

United States.

Public opinion--United States.

Public opinion.

United States--Politics and government--1989-.

Politics and government.

Physical Description:

xix, 389 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Princeton : Princeton University Press, [2011]

Summary:

Citizens are political simpletons-that is only a modest exaggeration of a common characterization of voters. Certainly, there is no shortage of evidence of citizens' limited political knowledge, even about matters of the highest importance, along with inconsistencies in their thinking, some glaring by any standard. But this picture of citizens all too often approaches caricature.

Paul Sniderman and Benjamin Highton bring together leading political scientists who offer new insights into the political thinking of the public, the causes of party polarization, the motivations for political participation, and the paradoxical relationship between turnout and democratic representation. These studies propel a foundational argument about democracy. Voters can only do as well as the alternatives on offer. These alternatives are constrained by third players, in particular activists, interest groups, and financial contributors. The result: voters often appear to be shortsighted, extreme, and inconsistent because the alternatives they must choose between are shortsighted, extreme, and inconsistent. Book jacket.

Contents:

Acknowledgments xi

List of Contributors xiii

Introduction: Facing the Challenge of Democracy / Paul M. Sniderman Sniderman, Paul M., Benjamin Highton Highton, Benjamin 1

Part I The Political Logic of Preference Consistency

I How Do Political Scientists Know What Citizens Want? An Essay on Theory and Measurement / Arthur Lupia Lupia, Arthur 23

II Purposive Mass Belief Systems concerning Foreign Policy / Benjamin I. Page Page, Benjamin I., Tao Xie Xie, Tao 47

III Cosmopolitanism / Simon Jackman Jackman, Simon, Lynn Vavreck Vavreck, Lynn 70

IV Running to the Right: Effects of Campaign Strategy on Mass Opinion and Behavior / Diana Mutz Mutz, Diana, Susanna Dilliplane Dilliplane, Susanna 97

V Pathways to Conservative Identification: The Politics of Ideological Contradiction in the United States / Christopher Ellis Ellis, Christopher, James A. Stimson Stimson, James A. 120

Part II Polarization and the Party System

VI Partisan Differences in Job Approval Ratings of George W. Bush and U.S. Senators in the States: An Exploration / Gary C. Jacobson Jacobson, Gary C. 153

VII Political Participation, Polarization, and Public Opinion: Activism and the Merging of Partisan and Ideological Polarization / John H. Aldrich Aldrich, John H., Melanie Freeze Freeze, Melanie 185

VIII Political Parties in the Capital Economy of Modern Campaigns / Jonathan Krasno Krasno, Jonathan 207

IX Candidates and Parties in Congressional Elections: Revisiting Candidate-Centered Conclusions in a Partisan Era / Eric McGhee McGhee, Eric, Kathryn Pearson Pearson, Kathryn 224

X The Myth of the Independent Voter Revisited / David B. Magleby Magleby, David B., Candice J. Nelson Nelson, Candice J., Mark C. Westlye Westlye, Mark C. 238

Part III Participation and Representation

XI Who Really Votes? / Stephen Ansolabebere Ansolabebere, Stephen, Eitan Hersh Hersh, Eitan 267

XII Who Governs if Everyone Votes? / John Sides Sides, John, Eric Schickler Schickler, Eric, Jack Citrin Citrin, Jack 292

XIII The Effects of Registration Laws on Voter Turnout: An Updated Assessment / Matthew R. Knee Knee, Matthew R., Donald P. Green Green, Donald P. 312

XIV Issue Preferences, Civic Engagement, and the Transformation of American Politics / Edward G. Carmines Carmines, Edward G., Michael J. Ensley Ensley, Michael J., Michael W. Wagner Wagner, Michael W. 329.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780691151106

0691151105

9780691151113

0691151113

OCLC:

697980101