1 option
Who governs? : presidents, public opinion, and manipulation / James N. Druckman and Lawrence R. Jacobs.
LIBRA JK516 .D793 2015
Available from offsite location
- Format:
- Book
- Author/Creator:
- Druckman, James N., 1971- author.
- Jacobs, Lawrence R., author.
- Series:
- Chicago studies in American politics
- Language:
- English
- Subjects (All):
- Presidents--United States.
- Presidents.
- United States.
- Democracy--United States.
- Democracy.
- Public opinion--United States.
- Public opinion.
- United States--Politics and government.
- Politics and government.
- Political science.
- Physical Description:
- xix, 183 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm.
- Place of Publication:
- Chicago ; London : The University of Chicago Press, 2015.
- Summary:
- America's model of representational government rests on the premise that elected officials respond to the opinions of citizens. This is a myth, however, say James N. Druckman and Lawrence R. Jacobs. In Who Governs?, Druckman and Jacobs combine existing research with novel data from US presidential archives to show that presidents make policy by largely ignoring the views of most citizens in favor of affluent and well-connected political insiders. Presidents treat the public as pliable, priming it to focus on personality traits and often ignoring it on issues that fail to become salient. Melding big debates about democratic theory with existing research on American politics and innovatively using the archives of three modern presidents-Johnson, Nixon, and Reagan-Druckman and Jacobs show that the conventional model of representative democracy bears little resemblance to the actual practice of American politics. The authors conclude by arguing that polyarchy, along with the promotion of accelerated citizen mobilization and elite competition, can improve democratic responsiveness. An incisive study of American politics and the flaws of representative government, this book will be warmly welcomed by readers interested in US politics, public opinion, democratic theory, and the fecklessness of American leadership and decision making. Book jacket.
- Contents:
- Political representation and presidential manipulation
- Presidential crafted talk and democratic theory
- The political strategy of tracking the public
- Presidential strategies to shape public opinion
- How White House strategy drives the collection and use of its polling
- Segmented representation
- Elite strategies to prime issues and image
- America's democratic dilemmas
- The effects and limits of presidential efforts to move public opinion
- Rethinking representation.
- Notes:
- Includes bibliographical references and index.
- ISBN:
- 9780226234380
- 022623438X
- 9780226234410
- 022623441X
- 9780226234557
- 022623455X
- OCLC:
- 883646969
The Penn Libraries is committed to describing library materials using current, accurate, and responsible language. If you discover outdated or inaccurate language, please fill out this feedback form to report it and suggest alternative language.