Democracy, Intermediation, and Voting on Four Continents

Democracy, Intermediation, and Voting on Four Continents
Author: Richard Gunther
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 437
Release: 2007
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 0199202834

This book presents the results of systematic comparative analyses of electoral behavior and support for democracy in 13 countries on four continents. It is based on national election surveys held in "old" and "new" democracies in Europe (Germany, Britain, Spain, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Bulgaria), North and South America (the United States, Chile and Uruguay), and Asia (Hong Kong) between 1990 and 2004. It is methodologically innovative, notwithstanding the fact that its core concern with "political intermediation" (i.e., the flow of political information from parties and candidates to voters through the mass-communications media, membership in secondary associations, and direct, face-to-face contacts within interpersonal networks) was first introduced to the study of electoral behavior by Paul Lazarsfeld and his collaborators in the 1940s. In addition to reviving that long-neglected analytical framework, this book breaks new ground by systematically exploring the impact of socio-political values on electoral behavior. It also analyzes the role of political intermediation in forming basic attitudes towards democracy (which are crucial for the consolidation of new democracies), and, in turn, channeling those orientations into various forms of political behavior. Some of the findings presented in this volume are dramatic, and clearly reveal that these channels of information are among the most powerful factors influencing the development of political attitudes and partisan electoral behavior. So, too, are socio-political values in some countries (particularly the United States). This volume is the first book-length product of the now 18-country Comparative National Elections Project.

Democracy under Construction

Democracy under Construction
Author: Ursula J. van Beek
Publisher: Verlag Barbara Budrich
Total Pages: 496
Release: 2005-09-12
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 3847414534

The book compares five newly emerged democracies in Europe, South East Asia, Latin America and Africa. Cutting across vastly dif¬fer¬ent historical and cultural backgrounds it tells the story of how societies come to terms with a painful past and how politics, culture and the economy intertwine in the process of creating new democratic nations.

Political Discussion in Modern Democracies

Political Discussion in Modern Democracies
Author: Michael R. Wolf
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 288
Release: 2010-06-10
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 1136964150

This book provides an overview of, and new contributions to the study of political discussion in comparative politics. It examines deliberation and discussion as the object of analysis and the consequences of political discussion and deliberation.

Voting in Old and New Democracies

Voting in Old and New Democracies
Author: Richard Gunther
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 342
Release: 2015-08-11
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1317430476

Voting in Old and New Democracies examines voting behavior and its determinants based on 26 surveys from 18 countries on five continents between 1992 and 2008. It systematically analyzes the impact on voting choice of factors rooted in the currently dominant approaches to the study of electoral behavior, but adds to this analysis factors introduced or reintroduced into this field by the Comparative National Elections Project (CNEP)—socio-political values, and political communication through media, personal discussion, and organizational intermediaries. It demonstrates empirically that these long-neglected factors have significant political impact in many countries that previous studies have overlooked, while "economic voting" is insignificant in most elections once long-term partisan attitudes are taken into consideration. Its examination of electoral turnout finds that the strongest predictor is participation by other family members, demonstrating the importance of intermediation. Another chapter surveys cross-national variations in patterns of intermediation, and examines the impact of general social processes (such as socioeconomic and technological modernization), country-specific factors, and individual-level attitudinal factors as determinants of those patterns. Complementing its cross-national comparative analysis is a detailed longitudinal case study of one country over 25 years. Finally, it examines the extent of support for democracy as well as significant cross-national differences in how democracy is understood by citizens. Written in a clear and accessible style, Voting in Old and New Democracies significantly advances our understanding of citizen attitudes and behavior in election settings.

Mexico's Evolving Democracy

Mexico's Evolving Democracy
Author: Jorge I. Domínguez
Publisher: JHU Press
Total Pages: 301
Release: 2015-01-05
Genre: History
ISBN: 1421415542

"Jorge Dominguez and his colleagues deliver an exceptional analysis of the 2012 Mexican elections through their continuation of the panel studies they ran for the 2000 and 2006 elections. They analyze the elections from both traditional and non-traditional vantage points, seeking fuller answers to the lingering question as to why Mexicans once again elected "la dictadura perfecta" (the perfect dictatorship), referring to the PRI's grip on power for most of the twentieth century. To evaluate the PRI's rehabilitation and eventual electoral success, Dominguez and his team of distinguished political scientists of Mexican electoral politics explore Mexico's electoral institutions, parties, candidates, campaign strategies, public opinion surveys, and media coverage as well as issues of clientelism, corruption, drugs, violence, and the rise of new protest movements in the run-up to and aftermath of the elections. Not only does the book provide rich detail for Latin American electoral and democratization scholars, but its coherent narrative will also appeal to those unfamiliar with Mexican politics. Parts One and Two of the book provide an excellent recap of the "state of play" in 2012; Part Three analyzes why Mexicans voted as they did; and Part Four considers the election's implications for Mexico's political system more broadly. The book will be sought out by scholars and upper level undergraduate and graduate students of comparative politics, democratization studies, and Mexican and Latin American politics. There should also be interest among policymakers"--

Routledge Handbook of Democratization in Africa

Routledge Handbook of Democratization in Africa
Author: Gabrielle Lynch
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 684
Release: 2019-07-02
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 135162363X

This volume explores the issues and debates surrounding the ongoing processes of democratization in sub-Saharan Africa, illuminating the central dynamics characterizing Africa’s democratic experiments, and considering the connections between democratization and economic, social, and cultural developments on the continent. Reflecting the diverse and rich nature of this field of study, the Handbook of Democratization in Africa features more than thirty contributions structured into six thematic sections: The politics and paths of regime development Institutional dynamics Political mobilization and voting dynamics The politics of identity Social forces from below The consequences of democracy. Chapters offer overviews of the key scholarship on particular topics, including central insights from the latest research, and provide suggestions for those interested in further inquiry. The material includes attention to broad cross-continental patterns, for example with respect to public opinion, political violence, or the role of different institutions and actors. It also includes rich case material, drawing on and highlighting the experiences of a diverse collection of countries. Encouraging a comprehensive view of key concerns and enhancing understanding of particular issues, the Handbook of Democratization in Africa represents a critical resource for experts and students of African politics, democratization, and African studies.

The Oxford Handbook of Political Networks

The Oxford Handbook of Political Networks
Author: Jennifer Nicoll Victor
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 1011
Release: 2018
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 0190228210

Politics is intuitively about relationships, but until recently the network perspective has not been a dominant part of the methodological paradigm that political scientists use to study politics. This volume is a foundational statement about networks in the study of politics.

Party Change, Recent Democracies, and Portugal

Party Change, Recent Democracies, and Portugal
Author: Marco Lisi
Publisher: Lexington Books
Total Pages: 251
Release: 2015-10-01
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 073919366X

This book offers a critical overview on the literature on party change and provides original data on several dimensions of party organizations, focusing in particular on Portuguese political parties. The Portuguese case study will be used to illustrate how political parties evolve and the main differences in the trajectory experienced by parties in old democracies. Therefore, starting from the main theoretical contributions used to study party change, this book examines some key dimensions of the role played by political parties: ideological and programmatic orientations, the social basis of support, party organization, electoral campaigns and the elections of party leaders. Through a wide and rich data collection and the comparative perspective adopted, this book furthers our understanding of how Portuguese political parties have changed and the impact of this change on the quality of democracy.

Voters on the Move Or on the Run?

Voters on the Move Or on the Run?
Author: Bernhard Wessels
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Total Pages: 369
Release: 2014
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 0199662630

Voters on the Move or on the Run? addresses electoral change, the reasons for it, and its consequences. By investigating the complexity of voting and its context, the volume shows that increasingly heterogeneity is not arbitrary and unstructured.