Interest Groups, Lobbying and Participation in America

ISBN-13: 9780521639620 / Angielski / Miękka / 1999 / 172 str.

Kenneth M. Goldstein

Opis

More than individual attributes and attitudes motivate individuals to participate in politics and more goes into interest group influence than financial donations and direct activity. To answer fundamental questions about what determines when and why people participate in politics and how organized interests go about trying to influence legislative decision-making, we must understand how and why political leaders recruit which members of the public into the political arena. Looking from the bottom up with survey data and from the top down with data from interest group interviews, Goldstein develops and tests a theory of how tactical choices in a grass roots campaign are made.

Recenzje

'The book is very easy to read and it is highly recommended for specialists. Students and teachers will find it a helpful source for gaining fresh insights into the issue. It is a comprehensive, well written, well researched, and thoroughly documented account of an issue that goes to the heart of democracy. Indeed, Goldstein's work is impressive and should take its place as a major source on the topic!' Robert P. Watson, University of Hawaii

Spis treści

1. Introduction; 2. Patterns and puzzles in participation and lobbying; 3. The political logic of political decisions; 4. Explaining lobbying decisions; 5. Lobbying decisions and the health care reform battle; 6. Patterns of recruitment and participation in the mass public; 7. Conclusion.