Democracy at Risk: How Terrorist Threats Affect the Public (Chicago Studies in American Politics)

How do threats of terrorism affect the opinions of citizens? Speculation abounds, but until now no one had marshaled hard evidence to explain the complexities of this relationship. Drawing on data from surveys and original experiments they conducted in the United States and Mexico, Jennifer Merolla and Elizabeth Zechmeister demonstrate how our strategies for coping with terrorist threats significantly influence our attitudes toward fellow citizens, political leaders, and foreign nations. The authors reveal, for example, that some people try to restore a sense of order and control through increased wariness of others—especially of those who exist outside the societal mainstream. Additionally, voters under threat tend to prize “strong leadership” more highly than partisan affiliation, making some politicians seem more charismatic than they otherwise would. The authors show that a wary public will sometimes continue to empower such leaders after they have been elected, giving them greater authority even at the expense of institutional checks and balances. Having demonstrated that a climate of terrorist threat also increases support for restrictive laws at home and engagement against terrorists abroad, Merolla and Zechmeister conclude that our responses to such threats can put democracy at risk.

Politics & Social Sciences

Zechmeister, Elizabeth J.

Merolla, Jennifer L.

Politics & Government

University of Chicago Press

How do threats of terrorism affect the opinions of citizens? Speculation abounds, but until now no one had marshaled hard evidence to explain the complexities of this relationship. Drawing on data from surveys and original experiments they conducted in the United States and Mexico, Jennifer Merolla and Elizabeth Zechmeister demonstrate how our strategies for coping with terrorist threats significantly influence our attitudes toward fellow citizens, political leaders, and foreign nations. The authors reveal, for example, that some people try to restore a sense of order and control through increased wariness of others—especially of those who exist outside the societal mainstream. Additionally, voters under threat tend to prize “strong leadership” more highly than partisan affiliation, making some politicians seem more charismatic than they otherwise would. The authors show that a wary public will sometimes continue to empower such leaders after they have been elected, giving them greater authority even at the expense of institutional checks and balances. Having demonstrated that a climate of terrorist threat also increases support for restrictive laws at home and engagement against terrorists abroad, Merolla and Zechmeister conclude that our responses to such threats can put democracy at risk.

Change and Continuity in the 2020 Elections

Is America in the midst of an electoral transformation? What were the sources of victory in 2020, and how do they differ from Republican and Democratic coalitions of the past? Does the Democratic victory signal a long-term decline for Republicans’ chances in presidential elections? 
Change and Continuity in the 2020 Elections attempts to answer those questions by analyzing and explaining the voting behavior in the most recent election, as well as setting the results in the context of larger trends and patterns in elections studies. This top-notch author team meticulously explains the latest National Election Studies data and discuss its importance and impact. Readers will critically analyze a variety of variables such as the presidential and congressional elections, voter turnout, and the social forces, party loyalties, and prominent issues that affect voting behavior. Readers will walk away with a better understanding of this groundbreaking election and what those results mean for the future of American politics.

Aldrich, John H.

Carson University of Georgia, Jamie L.

Gomez Florida State Unviersity, Brad T.

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Change and Continuity in the 2020 and 2022 Elections

Is America in the midst of an electoral transformation? What were the sources of Joseph Biden’s victory in 2020, and how do they differ from Republican and Democratic coalitions of the past? Does the Democratic victory signal a long-term decline for Republicans’ chances in presidential elections? 
Change and Continuity in the 2020 and 2022 Elections explores those questions by analyzing and explaining the voting behavior in the most recent presidential and midterm elections, as well as setting the results in the context of larger trends and patterns in elections studies. The authors present the latest National Election Studies data to help students see how social forces, party loyalties, and prominent issues affect voting behavior, turnout, and ultimately the results of presidential and congressional elections. Readers will come away with a better understanding of what the most recent elections mean for the future of American politics.

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

Books by Merolla, Jennifer L.

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

Democracy at Risk: How Terrorist Threats Affect the Public (Chicago Studies in American Politics)

Democracy at Risk: How Terrorist Threats Affect the Public (Chicago Studies in American Politics)

Change and Continuity in the 2020 Elections

Change and Continuity in the 2020 and 2022 Elections

Change and Continuity in the 2020 and 2022 Elections