The Dynamics of Public Opinion

Erscheinungsjahr 2021
ISBN: 978-1-00-910059-5
Verlag: Cambridge University Press

Buch, Englisch, 75 Seiten, HC gerader Rücken kaschiert, Format (B × H): 157 mm x 235 mm, Gewicht: 288 g

Reihe: Elements in American Politics

A central question in political representation is whether government responds to the people. To understand that, we need to know what the government is doing, and what the people think of it. We seek to understand a key question necessary to answer those bigger questions: How does American public opinion move over time? We posit three patterns of change over time in public opinion, depending on the type of issue. Issues on which the two parties regularly disagree provide clear partisan cues to the public. For these party-cue issues we present a slight variation on the thermostatic theory from (Soroka and Wlezien (2010); Wlezien (1995)); our “implied thermostatic model.” A smaller number of issues divide the public along lines unrelated to partisanship, and so partisan control of government provides no relevant clue. Finally, we note a small but important class of issues which capture response to cultural shifts.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Atkinson, Mary Layton

Coggins, K. Elizabeth

Stimson, James A.

Baumgartner, Frank R.

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politische Systeme Staats- und Regierungsformen, Staatslehre

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1. Introduction; 2. Implied Thermostatic Response; 3. Absolute Opinion Change; 4. Conclusion; Appendix: Comparing the Survey Research Agenda to the Congressional Agenda.