Quantifying the American mood through opinion polls appears to be an unbiased means for finding out what people want. But in "Numbered Voices, " Susan Herbst demonstrates that the way public opinion is measured affects the use that voters, legislators, and journalists make of it. Exploring the history of public opinion in the United States from the mid-nineteenth century to the present day, Herbst shows how numbers served both instrumental and symbolic functions, not only conveying neutral information but creating a basis authority. Addressing how the quantification of public opinion has...
Quantifying the American mood through opinion polls appears to be an unbiased means for finding out what people want. But in "Numbered Voices, " Susan...
Public opinion is one of the most elusive and complex concepts in democratic theory, and we do not fully understand its role in the political process. Reading Public Opinion offers one provocative approach for understanding how public opinion fits into the empirical world of politics. In fact, Susan Herbst finds that public opinion, surprisingly, has little to do with the mass public in many instances. Herbst draws on ideas from political science, sociology, and psychology to explore how three sets of political participants--legislative staffers, political activists, and...
Public opinion is one of the most elusive and complex concepts in democratic theory, and we do not fully understand its role in the political process....
Although there is a large body of popular and scholarly literature on multiculturalism, there are few communications-oriented studies of political outsiders. Politics at the Margin fills this gap by analyzing how oppressed citizens--women, African Americans, and political radicals--create their own media for, and styles of, public expression. The book contains four diverse case studies of outsiders (three historical, one contemporary) that shed light on the experience of people who have traditionally been excluded from mainstream political life.
Although there is a large body of popular and scholarly literature on multiculturalism, there are few communications-oriented studies of political out...
Democracy is, by its very nature, often rude. But there are limits to how uncivil we should be. In her timely and important book, "Rude Democracy, "Susan Herbst explores the ways we discuss public policy, how we treat each other as we do, and how we can create a more civil national culture.
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Herbst uses the examples of Sarah Palin and Barack Obama to illustrate her case. She scrutinizes Palin as both victim and perpetrator of incivility, including close analysis of her speeches on the 2008 campaign trail, the tone at her rallies, and her interactions with her audience. aaTurning to...
Democracy is, by its very nature, often rude. But there are limits to how uncivil we should be. In her timely and important book, "Rude Democracy, ...
Public Opinion is a comprehensive and multidisciplinary examination of public opinion in the United States. Drawing on scholarship in political science, psychology, sociology, and communications, the authors explore the nature of political and social attitudes in the United States and how these attitudes are shaped by various institutions, with an emphasis on mass media. The book also serves as a provocative starting point for the discussion of citizen moods, political participation, and voting behavior. Feature boxes and illustrations throughout help students understand all...
Public Opinion is a comprehensive and multidisciplinary examination of public opinion in the United States. Drawing on scholarship in po...
