Asymmetric Politics: Ideological Republicans and Group Interest Democrats

Why do Republican politicians promise to rein in government, only to face repeated rebellions from Republican voters and media critics for betraying their principles? Why do Democratic politicians propose an array of different policies to match the diversity of their supporters, only to become mired in stark demographic divisions over issue priorities? In short, why do the two parties act so differently-whether in the electorate, on the campaign trail, or in public office? Asymmetric Politics offers a comprehensive explanation: The Republican Party is the vehicle of an ideological movement while the Democratic Party is a coalition of social groups. Republican leaders prize conservatism and attract support by pledging loyalty to broad values. Democratic leaders instead seek concrete government action, appealing to voters' group identities and interests by endorsing specific policies. This fresh and comprehensive investigation reveals how Democrats and Republicans think differently about politics, rely on distinct sources of information, argue past one another, and pursue divergent goals in government. It provides a rigorous new understanding of contemporary polarization and governing dysfunction while demonstrating how longstanding features of American politics and public policy reflect our asymmetric party system.

Politics & Social Sciences

Grossmann, Matt

Hopkins, David A.

Politics & Government

Oxford University Press

It seems like most of what we read about the academic social sciences in the mainstream media is negative. The field is facing mounting criticism, as canonical studies fail to replicate, questionable research practices abound, and researcher social and political biases come under fire. In response to these criticisms, Matt Grossmann, in How Social Science Got Better, provides a robust defense of the current state of the social sciences. Applying insights from the philosophy, history, and sociology of science and providing new data on research trends and scholarly views, he argues that, far from crisis, social science is undergoing an unparalleled renaissance of ever-broader understanding and application. According to Grossmann, social science research today has never been more relevant, rigorous, or self-reflective because scholars have a much better idea of their blind spots and biases. He highlights how scholars now closely analyze the impact of racial, gender, geographic, methodological, political, and ideological differences on research questions; how the incentives of academia influence our research practices; and how universal human desires to avoid uncomfortable truths and easily solve problems affect our conclusions. Though misaligned incentive structures of course remain, a messy, collective deliberation across the research community has shifted us into an unprecedented age of theoretical diversity, open and connected data, and public scholarship. Grossmann's wide-ranging account of current trends will necessarily force the academy's many critics to rethink their lazy critiques and instead acknowledge the path-breaking advances occurring in the social sciences today.

How Social Science Got Better: Overcoming Bias with More Evidence, Diversity, and Self-Reflection

Business & Money

Artists of the Possible: Governing Networks and American Policy Change since 1945 (Studies in Postwar American Political Development)

Do policymakers heed the voices of the American public or only the lobbyists in Washington? Why do they take action on health reform, but not gun control? Why does policymaking usually move slowly, and sometimes not at all? Artists of the Possible takes on these questions, analyzing sixty years of domestic policy history to provide a new understanding of what drives policymaking in all three branches of government. The results are surprising: public policy does not address the public's largest concerns. The amount of policy-and its liberal or conservative direction-emerges instead from coalition building and compromises among political elites. Elections, public opinion, and media coverage have little impact, no matter the issue area. Even changes in Washington's partisan balance and ideological divides fail to reliably produce shifts in policy direction. This data-rich, exhaustively researched work overturns our most basic assumptions about how policy is made, challenging the notion that our government is of, by, and for the people.

History

Americas

Do policymakers heed the voices of the American public or only the lobbyists in Washington? Why do they take action on health reform, but not gun control? Why does policymaking usually move slowly, and sometimes not at all? Artists of the Possible takes on these questions, analyzing sixty years of domestic policy history to provide a new understanding of what drives policymaking in all three branches of government. The results are surprising: public policy does not address the public's largest concerns. The amount of policy-and its liberal or conservative direction-emerges instead from coalition building and compromises among political elites. Elections, public opinion, and media coverage have little impact, no matter the issue area. Even changes in Washington's partisan balance and ideological divides fail to reliably produce shifts in policy direction. This data-rich, exhaustively researched work overturns our most basic assumptions about how policy is made, challenging the notion that our government is of, by, and for the people.

The #1 book examines contemporary campaigns and elections―now updated through 2020 Thoroughly revised and updated through the 2020 elections, the Fourth Edition of Campaigns & Elections uses a consistent framework to reveal the strategies and choices that face candidates and other practitioners in the American political system. The authors have set out to help students answer the many questions they have about campaigns while spotlighting contemporary political science research to help them do so.

Campaigns and Elections

Shaw, Daron

Sides, John

Lipsitz, Keena

W.W.Norton&Company

Thoroughly and rigorously revised and updated through the 2016 elections, Campaigns and Elections, Third Edition, uses a consistent framework to reveal the strategies and choices that face candidates and other practitioners in the American political system.

The #1 book―now updated through 2018 Thoroughly and rigorously revised and updated through the 2018 elections by an author team of esteemed teacher-scholars. This text uses a consistent framework to reveal the strategies and choices that face candidates and other practitioners in the American political system.

A contemporary and comprehensive approach to campaigns and elections―now updated through the 2012 elections. The leading book in the market―now updated through the 2012 elections―makes a contemporary approach to campaigns and elections accessible and engaging. Based on the authors’ own courses, Campaigns &amp; Elections uses a clear, consistent framework to help students understand the strategies and choices involved in American campaigns and elections. With coverage of elections at the presidential, congressional, state, and local levels, the book’s analysis balances the perspectives of political scientists and campaign practitioners.

Campaigns & Elections: Rules, Reality, Strategy, Choice

A contemporary and comprehensive approach to campaigns and elections.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Grossmann, Matt. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Grossmann, Matt

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Grossmann, Matt. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Asymmetric Politics: Ideological Republicans and Group Interest Democrats

Asymmetric Politics: Ideological Republicans and Group Interest Democrats

How Social Science Got Better: Overcoming Bias with More Evidence, Diversity, and Self-Reflection

Artists of the Possible: Governing Networks and American Policy Change since 1945 (Studies in Postwar American Political Development)

Artists of the Possible: Governing Networks and American Policy Change since 1945 (Studies in Postwar American Political Development)

Campaigns and Elections

Campaigns and Elections

Campaigns and Elections

Campaigns & Elections: Rules, Reality, Strategy, Choice

Campaigns & Elections: Rules, Reality, Strategy, Choice