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.
Facing the Challenge of Democracy features contributions by John Aldrich, Stephen Ansolabehere, Edward Carmines, Jack Citrin, Susanna Dilliplane, Christopher Ellis, Michael Ensley, Melanie Freeze, Donald Green, Eitan Hersh, Simon Jackman, Gary Jacobson, Matthew Knee, Jonathan Krasno, Arthur Lupia, David Magleby, Eric McGhee, Diana Mutz, Candice Nelson, Benjamin Page, Kathryn Pearson, Eric Schickler, John Sides, James Stimson, Lynn Vavreck, Michael Wagner, Mark Westlye, and Tao Xie.

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edited by Paul M. Sniderman and Benjamin Highton

Sniderman, Paul M.; Highton, Benjamin

Mark Bevir

Princeton University, Department of Art & Archaeology

Oxford University Press

Princeton Electronic

Princeton University Press, Princeton, 2011

United States, United States of America

Course book, Princeton, N.J, 2012

Princeton, New Jersey, 2011

Princeton, N.J, cop. 2011

1, PT, 2011

2, 2011

0

lg863544

producers:
Adobe PDF Library 7.0 / PDF PT 3.60 (pdf-tools.com)

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Includes bibliographical references and index.

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 Partic. Introduction: Facing The Challenge Of Democracy / Paul M. Sniderman, Benjamin Highton -- I. How Do Political Scientists Know What Citizens Want? An Essay On Theory And Measurement / Arthur Lupia -- Ii. Purposive Mass Belief Systems Concerning Foreign Policy / Benjamin I. Page, Tao Xie -- Iii. Cosmopolitanism / Simon Jackman, Lynn Vavreck -- Iv. Running To The Right: Effects Of Campaign Strategy On Mass Opinion And Behavior / Diana Mutz, Susanna Dilliplane -- V. Pathways To Conservative Identification: The Politics Of Ideological Contradiction In The United States / Christopher Ellis, James A. Stimson -- Vi. Partisan Differences In Job Approval Ratings Of George W. Bush And U.s. Senators In The States: An Exploration / Gary C. Jacobson -- Vii. Political Participation, Polarization, And Public Opinion: Activism And The Merging Of Partisan And Ideological Polarization / John H. Aldrich, Melanie Freeze -- Viii. Political Parties In The Capital Economy Of Modern Campaigns / Jonathan Krasno -- Ix. Candidates And Parties In Congressional Elections: Revisiting Candidate-centered Conclusions In A Partisan Era / Eric Mcghee, Kathryn Pearson -- X. The Myth Of The Independent Voter Revisited / David B. Magleby, Candice J. Nelson, Mark C. Westlye -- Xi. Who Really Votes? / Stephen Ansolabehere, Eitan Hersh -- Xii. Who Governs If Everyone Votes? / John Sides, Eric Schickler, Jack Citrin -- Xiii. The Effects Of Registration Laws On Voter Turnout: An Updated Assessment / Matthew R. Knee, Donald P. Green -- Xiv. Issue Preferences, Civic Engagement, And The Transformation Of American Politics / Edward G. Carmines, Michael J. Ensley, Michael W. Wagner. Edited By Paul M. Sniderman And Benjamin Highton. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.

Political Science and International Relations
Cover 1
Title Page 4
Copyright 5
Contents 8
Preface 10
Acknowledgments 12
Contributors 14
Introduction: Facing the Challenge of Democracy 24
Part I: The Political Logic of Preference Consistency 44
I. How Do Political Scientists Know What Citizens Want? An Essay on Theory and Measurement 46
II. Purposive Mass Belief Systems concerning Foreign Policy 70
III. Cosmopolitanism 93
IV. Running to the Right: Effects of Campaign Strategy on Mass Opinion and Behavior 120
V. Pathways to Conservative Identification: The Politics of Ideological Contradiction in the United States 143
Part II: Polarization and the Party System 174
VI. Partisan Differences in Job Approval Ratings of George W. Bush and U.S. Senators in the States: An Exploration 176
VII. Political Participation, Polarization, and Public Opinion: Activism and the Merging of Partisan and Ideological Polarization 208
VIII. Political Parties in the Capital Economy of Modern Campaigns 230
IX. Candidates and Parties in Congressional Elections: Revisiting Candidate-Centered Conclusions in a Partisan Era 247
X. The Myth of the Independent Voter Revisited 261
Part III: Participation and Representation 288
XI. Who Really Votes? 290
XII. Who Governs if Everyone Votes? 315
XIII. T he Effects of Registration Laws on Voter Turnout: An Updated Assessment 335
XIV. I ssue Preferences, Civic Engagement, and the Transformation of American Politics 352
References 378
Index 402

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. This book brings 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.

Citizens are political simpletons - that is only a modest exaggeration of a common characterization of voters. This title brings together the political scientists, who offer insights into the political thinking of the public, the causes of party polarization, and the paradoxical relationship between turnout and democratic representation.

2012-10-06