Public opinion and polls Books

Book SynopsisThis 1992 book explains how people acquire political information from elites and the mass media and convert it into political preferences.Trade Review'Zaller's volume is a giant step forward int he development of a systematic understanding of the dynamics of public opinion … This is a splendid contribution.' Philip E. Converse, Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioural Sciences'A model of what social science can be at its finest, The Nature and Origins of Mass Opinion reshapes the field in ways that will reverberate throughout the study of public opinion, elections, and the relationship between elites and the mass public for decades.' John Aldrich, Duke University'Zaller's book is the most significant contribution to the scientific study of public opinion in alomost three decades.' Larry Bartels, Princeton UniversityTable of ContentsList of tables and figures; Preface; 1. Introduction: the fragmented state of opinion research; 2. Information, predispositions, and opinion; 3. How citizens acquire information and convert it into public opinion; 4. Coming to terms with response instability; 5. Making it up as you go along; 6. The mainstream and polarization effects; 7. Basic processes of 'attitude change'; 8. Tests of the one-message model; 9. Two-sided information flows; 10. Information flow and electoral choice; 11. Evaluating the model and looking toward future research; 12. Epilogue: the question of elite domination of public opinion; Measures appendix; References; Index.

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Book SynopsisThe Germans and the Final Solution stand as the fullest assessment to date of the attitudes of the German public to the Nazi policy of antisemitism and its genocidal conclusion. David Bankiera s pathbreaking work will be widely read by scholars and students of contemporary European Jewish history and the history of Nazi Germany.Trade Review"This is a subtle and well-documented argument that notably advances our understanding of German popular opinion towards the Nazis' anti-Semitic policies." Inside Out "A well written and important book that deserves to be widely read and to be placed in every public library." Times Higher Education Supplement "Bankier's book will be welcomed by anyone teaching German history, Nazism, or the Holocaust, because it is the first book to answer comprehensively the most common student question in any discussion of the Holocaust: What did average Germans know and how did they feel about Hitler's antisemitic propaganda and mass murder?" ChoiceTable of ContentsAcknowledgements. Introduction. 1. Image and Reality in the Third Reich. 2. Institutionalization and Radicalization. 3. International Crises and Foreign Policy. 4. Public Responses to Anti-semitism 1933-1938. 5. Workers, Peasants and Businessmen. 6. The Awareness of the Holocaust. 7. Public Responses to Anti-semitism 1939-1943. 8. Image and Reality - The End. Conclusion. Notes. Bibliography.

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Book SynopsisIn this book, Paul Midford engages claims that since 9/11 Japanese public opinion has turned sharply away from pacifism and toward supporting normalization of Japan''s military power, in which Japanese troops would fight alongside their American counterparts in various conflicts worldwide. Midford argues that Japanese public opinion has never embraced pacifism. It has, instead, contained significant elements of realism, in that it has acknowledged the utility of military power for defending national territory and independence, but has seen offensive military power as ineffective for promoting other goalssuch as suppressing terrorist networks and WMD proliferation, or promoting democracy overseas.Over several decades, these realist attitudes have become more evident as the Japanese state has gradually convinced its public that Tokyo and its military can be trusted with territorial defense, and even with noncombat humanitarian and reconstruction missions overseas. On thiTrade Review"This book is an important textbook not just for students and scholars in international relations, political science, and Asian studies, but for policy makers in Japan and the United States as well. This book should be on the reading list of anyone wanting to understand the changes in Japan's security policy over the last two decades and how it might influence Japan's future security policy."—Alon Levkowitz, H-Net"The influence of public opinion on Japanese foreign and security policy has not been deeply studied up to this point. By providing a clearly structured and meticulous analysis of the problem Paul Midford has thereby done scholars of the "Japan puzzle" a valuable service. . . [This] volume represents the outstanding work on the topic of public opinion/security policy in Japan and is indispensible for specialists working in this area."—Thomas S. Wilkins, Pacific Affairs"[I]ndispensable . . . Midford's book should be read by all scholars and students of Japanese security policy. It is path breaking, if not yet definitive, in setting out a systematic understanding of how Japanese public opinion can affect security policy and offers up another sophisticated categorization—one that other scholars must engage—of the trajectory of Japanese security policy in the shape of 'Defensive Realism.'"—Christopher W. Hughes, Journal of Japanese Studies"Midford needs to be praised for collecting such a large number of opinion data and bringing them together in an easy-to-read narrative, illustrating the shifts and changes in public opinion, the original and then changing government narrative, and how public attitudes shaped these changes . . . Overall, this book is an important contribution not only to Japanese security studies, but also to the study of Japanese democracy."—Wilhelm M. Vosse, International Relations of the Asia-Pacific"Paul Midford has written a ground breaking study that provides vital perspective on a much neglected dimension of Japanese foreign and security policy making. At a time when confusion abounds over the long-term orientation of Japanese policy, Midford's study provides valuable insight on the underlying structures that set the parameters for decision makers in Tokyo. It deserves to be read by anyone interested in Japan, the international relations of East Asia, and US policy in the region."—Thomas U. Berger, Department of International Relations, Boston University

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Book SynopsisRethinking Japanese Public Opinion and Security argues that Japanese public opinion matters and has acted to prevent overseas military deployments involving combat while increasingly supportive of a more normal military establishment capable of autonomously defending Japanese territory.Trade Review"This book is an important textbook not just for students and scholars in international relations, political science, and Asian studies, but for policy makers in Japan and the United States as well. This book should be on the reading list of anyone wanting to understand the changes in Japan's security policy over the last two decades and how it might influence Japan's future security policy."—Alon Levkowitz, H-Net"The influence of public opinion on Japanese foreign and security policy has not been deeply studied up to this point. By providing a clearly structured and meticulous analysis of the problem Paul Midford has thereby done scholars of the "Japan puzzle" a valuable service. . . [This] volume represents the outstanding work on the topic of public opinion/security policy in Japan and is indispensible for specialists working in this area."—Thomas S. Wilkins, Pacific Affairs"[I]ndispensable . . . Midford's book should be read by all scholars and students of Japanese security policy. It is path breaking, if not yet definitive, in setting out a systematic understanding of how Japanese public opinion can affect security policy and offers up another sophisticated categorization—one that other scholars must engage—of the trajectory of Japanese security policy in the shape of 'Defensive Realism.'"—Christopher W. Hughes, Journal of Japanese Studies"Midford needs to be praised for collecting such a large number of opinion data and bringing them together in an easy-to-read narrative, illustrating the shifts and changes in public opinion, the original and then changing government narrative, and how public attitudes shaped these changes . . . Overall, this book is an important contribution not only to Japanese security studies, but also to the study of Japanese democracy."—Wilhelm M. Vosse, International Relations of the Asia-Pacific"Paul Midford has written a ground breaking study that provides vital perspective on a much neglected dimension of Japanese foreign and security policy making. At a time when confusion abounds over the long-term orientation of Japanese policy, Midford's study provides valuable insight on the underlying structures that set the parameters for decision makers in Tokyo. It deserves to be read by anyone interested in Japan, the international relations of East Asia, and US policy in the region."—Thomas U. Berger, Department of International Relations, Boston University

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewStock deftly blurs the traditional parameters of political, social, and cultural history, explains the racial and gendered implications of militarization in view of ‘southern diaspora’ (as she and others have called it), and stretches the already vast historiography on modern American conservatism in several challenging and helpful ways. Nuclear Country also reconsiders the catalysts of modern conservatism, its geographic and temporal loci, and, quite frankly, explains more efficiently and compellingly than most how Cold War–era militarization—specifically the rapid expansion of American military bases— spurred a brand of patriotic, anticommunist conservatism that eventually made its way into the mainstream…[A] strikingly insightful and unapologetically forceful study. Engaging and accessible, the book is, in short, a triumph. * Journal of American History *Catherine McNicol Stock's compelling new book Nuclear Country extends the history of the right back in time, opening in the late 1800s, to ask how a region that had once embraced radicalism gradually moved to the right. Nuclear Country will not only speak to scholars but also appeal to readers deeply engaged with our current political moment. * Kevin Boyle, author of Arc of Justice: A Saga of Race, Civil Rights, and Murder in the Jazz Age *In her excellent book Nuclear Country, Catherine McNicol Stock expertly reveals the political impact of the arrival of Air Force bases and nuclear bombs during the Cold War period on places in the Great Plains. Stock's knowledge of the history of the Dakotas is both broad and intimate, and she writes lively, accessible prose that makes her story come alive for readers who know nothing about the region. * Michael Kazin, author of War Against War: The American Fight for Peace, 1914-1918 *Table of ContentsPreface Introduction Chapter 1. "Under God, the People Rule" Chapter 2. "Humanity Gone Mad" Chapter 3. "100% Against Communists" Chapter 4. "An Entire World in Khaki Brown and Olive Green" Chapter 5. Secrets and Lies Chapter 6. George McGovern's "Lost World" Chapter 7. Wounded Knee, 1973, and the War at Home Chapter 8. "The Companies You Keep" Appendix. Methodology:Total Population of Military Personnel and Dependents Stationed in the Dakotas, 1955-1995 Notes Index Acknowledgments

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Book SynopsisWhat is causing the American public to move more openly into alt-right terrain? What explains the uptick in anti-immigrant hysteria, isolationism, and an increasing willingness to support alternatives to democratic governance? The Everyday Crusade provides an answer. The book points to American Religious Exceptionalism (ARE), a widely held religious nationalist ideology steeped in myth about the nation''s original purpose. The book opens with a comprehensive synthesis of research on nationalism and religion in American public opinion. Making use of survey data spanning three different presidential administrations, it then develops a new theory of why Americans form extremist attitudes, based on religious exceptionalism myths. The book closes with an examination of what''s next for an American public that confronts new global issues, alongside existing challenges to perceived cultural authority. Timely and enlightening, The Everyday Crusade offers a critical touchstone for better undersTrade Review'This ambitious book succeeds in demonstrating how our national myth of American Religious Exceptionalism profoundly shapes the world around us. Marshalling survey data from a variety of sources gathered over a decade, McDaniel, Nooruddin, and Shortle provide us a systematic framework sure to influence research agendas for years to come.' Andrew L. Whitehead, author of Taking America Back for God: Christian Nationalism in the United States.'In this timely and important contribution, McDaniel, Nooruddin, and Shortle masterfully illuminate how the myth of American Religious Exceptionalism has shaped popular and dominant conceptions of what it means to be an American. Their work is crucial to understanding historic and contemporary political battles over the country's most pressing and defining issues, including immigration, citizenship, and American identity.' Ashley Jardina, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Duke University'In The Everyday Crusade, an impressive group of scholars combines their individual expertise to conduct a strikingly thorough exploration of religious exceptionalism. Not only do they draw evidence from numerous surveys over the course of a decade, but they also examine how religious exceptionalism manifests across groups and even in global contexts. This book will undoubtedly be of great interest to scholars for years to come.' Nicole Yadon, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Ohio State University'Blending meticulous analyses of survey data with deep, nuanced interrogation of history, The Everyday Crusade illuminates the longstanding hold of American religious exceptionalism on policy preferences, political beliefs, and American identity. This exploration of the far-reaching imprints of America's founding mythology offers timely insights for our current state of affairs.' Davin L. Phoenix, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of California, Irvine'This outstanding book couples compelling historical examples and a wealth of data capturing public views to reveal the deep roots and ideological staying power of a potent mix of race, religion, and nationalism shaping U.S. politics today.' Janelle Wong, author of Immigrants, Evangelicals, and Politics in an Era of Demographic ChangeTable of ContentsIntroduction; 1. Myths, Gods, and Nations; 2. Who are the Believers?; 3. Who Dwells in His House?; 4. What Do We Owe Strangers?; 5. Evangelizing American Religious Exceptionalism; 6. Governing the Temple; 7. The View from the Back Pews; Conclusion.

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Book SynopsisThis Element examines citizens' perceptions, their knowledge of the system, and whether they support it. The authors connect this with information on citizens' reported turnout and vote choice to assess who is affected by mandatory voting. Each country has its own set of rules, and most voters are unaware of how they are enforced.Table of Contents1. Introduction; 2. Three cases: Australia, Belgium, and Brazil; 3. Citizens' perceptions and knowledge; 4. Support for compulsory voting; 5. Compulsory voting works: it increases turnout; 6. The consequences of compulsory voting; 7. Conclusion; References.

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Book SynopsisThis book argues that the European public sphere functions to help citizens understand complex economic issues and discuss them meaningfully across borders. Through original research conducted on citizensâ perceptions of European economic issues, it explores a mechanism that allows people to make sense of such complex issues - national anchoring - and shows that the way issues are politicized today in a national public sphere will shape citizens' understandings of novel issues tomorrow.The book demonstrates that debates in the European public sphere spread knowledge to the population just as national debates do, thus allowing transnational deliberation to function in the EU and potentially advance a European identity. The book thus draws optimistic conclusions with regard to EU legitimacy, with the European public sphere functioning rather well and problems of complexity and compatibility seeming less pronounced than often expected in public opinion research and European studies. This book will be of key interest to scholars and students of public opinion, European studies, political attitudes, austerity politics and more broadly to political science, sociology and social psychology.

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Book SynopsisPolitics is a trial in which those in government - and those who aspire to serve - make proposals, debate alternatives, and pass laws. Then the jury of public opinion decides. It likes the proposals or actions or it does not. It trusts the actors or it does not. It moves, always at the margin, and then those who benefit from the movement are declared winners. This book is about that public opinion response. Its most basic premise is that although public opinion rarely matters in a democracy, public opinion change is the exception. Public opinion rarely matters because the public rarely cares enough to act on its concerns or preferences. Change happens only when the threshold of normal public inattention is crossed. When public opinion changes, governments rise or fall, elections are won or lost, and old realities give way to new demands.Trade ReviewReview of previous edition: 'Stimson deftly interprets mathematical analysis of large quantities of public answers to survey questions. Highly recommended.' ChoiceReview of previous edition: 'This is excellent work by a scholar who is, by all measures, top in his field. Stimson writes about the single most important element in American politics: public opinion. He traces movement in public opinion over time and shows that it moves politics.' Janet Box-Steffensmeier, Ohio State UniversityReview of previous edition: 'The book is well written and a rare example of successful integration of state-of-the-art research and passing on knowledge to a wider audience … the book could be used as a benchmark for comparative research exploring the evolution in public opinion and the effects of campaigns and debates in other institutional settings … an excellent book, which deserves to be widely read.' Political Studies ReviewReview of previous edition: 'Tides of Consent is an ambitious attempt to integrate the findings of a half-century of public opinion research in an effort to draw convincing conclusions about the political implications and electoral consequences of public opinion. Too often public opinion is presented as filler, a spot on the evening news when nothing else is available. Rarely do we look at public opinion in its contemporary context, and almost never do we attempt to understand its significance over the long haul. In this book, Stimson offers us new insights into public preferences and understanding of the links between public preferences and public policy that are often lost in coverage of the daily news or the political campaign.' John McIver, University of Texas, AustinReview of previous edition: 'James Stimson has written a very important - and very readable - book. In a world of erratic sound bites, Stimson's analysis provides the underlying coherence of a symphony. Anyone who wishes to better understand the ebb and flow of American politics should read Tides of Consent.' Richard J. TofelReview of previous edition: 'Scholars and their students will find much to appreciate as well in this clearly written and engaging book, filled with interesting time series data and colorful examples about politicians and campaigns we all remember … Stimson believes that the most important thing in American politics is public opinion but says we have only 'scratched the surface' in understanding opinion movement His work has done much more than scratch the surface, and in Tides of Consent, he accomplishes his goal of making his research accessible to a broader audience than he has reached before.' Fay Lomax Cook, Political Science QuarterlyReview of previous edition: 'Tides of Consent is an excellent work. This book could be used as a textbook in an undergraduate course on public opinion, and it also makes a very good starting point for a graduate seminar on the same topic. Finally, it is simply interesting, thought-provoking, and enjoyable reading material that I would recommend to any political scientist.' Perspectives on PoliticsReview of previous edition: 'James A. Stimson has written another important book on American public opinion, this time geared to show a general audience how one fundamental aspect of 'democracy' works: that public opinion, contrary to its critics, looks sensible and 'citizens succeed in communicating their preferences to government.' Robert Y. Shapiro, Columbia University, New York'This immensely readable book is jam-packed with ideas and insights into the deep rhythms of public opinion and how they condition the actions and reactions of politicians and political commentators. I know of no other book on public opinion and elections that rivals its verve, deep scholarship, and on-the-money shrewdness.' Paul Sniderman, Stanford University, California'Tides of Consent is a rarity in the literature on public opinion - a book that is both accessible and profound. Its central thesis - that aggregate opinion moves in understandable ways and that it is this movement that influences politics - is compelling. A must-read for academics, journalists, pollsters, and anyone else interested in the role of the public voice in American democracy.' Michael X. Delli Carpini, University of Pennsylvania'Stimson is the premier scholar on the connection between public opinion and public policy on the national level in the US … This second edition is helpful because it updates numerous data series well past 2010. The conclusions are much the same, but the evidence is more robust. [His] writing style is approachable, entertaining, and at times downright humorous. This is a welcome update of a political science classic … Essential.' E. T. Jones, ChoiceTable of Contents1. Opinion flows; 2. What the public wants of government; 3. Left and right movements in preference; 4. The great horse race; 5. Between the campaigns; 6. On politics at the margin.

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Book SynopsisCan we talk about ''the people'' as an agent with its own morally important integrity? How should we understand ownership of public property by ''the people''? Nili develops philosophical answers to both of these questions, arguing that we should see the core project of a liberal legal system - realizing equal rights - as an identity-grounding project of the sovereign people, and thus as essential to the people''s integrity. He also suggests that there are proprietary claims that are intertwined in the sovereign people''s moral power to create property rights through the legal system. The practical value of these ideas is illustrated through a variety of real-world policy problems, ranging from the domestic and international dimensions of corruption and abuse of power, through transitional justice issues, to the ethnic and religious divides that threaten liberal democracy. This book will appeal to political theorists as well as readers in public policy, area studies, law, and across thTrade Review'Who are 'the people,' in a moral sense, and how should we think about the people as protecting their collective integrity? We have many theoretical and philosophical treatments of private property, but what about public property? In addition to answering these questions, of great relevance for our times, Shmuel Nili's The People's Duty is an accessible political philosophy that takes seriously the complexity of corruption and abuse of power.' Susan Stokes, Tiffany and Margaret Blake Distinguished Service Professor, University of Chicago'The People's Duty argues that, while it is individual people who should remain at the focus of political theory - that, in a broad sense, is what makes the theory liberal - the perspective of the people as a group agent is essential to the proper interpretation of liberal values and to their effective implementation in practical politics. It is an original and illuminating contribution to our thinking about the state, and should command wide attention.' Philip Pettit, L. S. Rockefeller University Professor of Human Values, Princeton University and Australian National University'Nili's pathbreaking book gives us an original way to think about the liberal state and its obligations, both to itself and to others. This provocative book will help the reader see liberalism and the state in new and important ways.' Jeff Spinner-Halev, Kenan Eminent Professor of Political Ethics, University of North Carolina, Chapel HillTable of ContentsIntroduction; 1. The people's integrity; 2. The people's property; 3. The people's integrity, the people's property, and the abuse of political power; 4. Their property, our integrity: the democratic response to the problem of odious debt; 5. Policy priorities for a divided people: Israel as a case study; Conclusion.

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Book SynopsisPrompted by the 'affective turn' within the entire spectrum of the social sciences, this books brings together the twin disciplines of political psychology and the political sociology of emotions to explore the complex relationship between politics and emotion at both the mass and individual level with special focus on cases of political tension.Trade ReviewThis collection represents the state of the art with regard to the sociology of emotions. The essays, by leading scholars in the social sciences, clearly demonstrate the fundamental importance of affect in the study of political action and institutional behaviour. I know of no better introduction to this growing field. Its publication could not come at a better time. Ron Eyerman, Center for Cultural Sociology, Yale University, USA Emotion in Politics manages in a very successful manner to bring together theoretical issues in the political sociology and psychology of emotions and empirically oriented studies on a variety of recent political developments. This combination clarifies theoretical debates on the micro-macro distinction, the reason-passion or interest-emotion distinction, the shortcomings of the rational choice approach etc. At the same time it shows the importance of taking seriously into account the emotive dimension in dealing with topics ranging from the Arab Spring and the Greek socioeconomic crisis to the analysis of protest movements and the xenophobic practices in several EU countries. On both the theoretical and empirical level the book contributes in an important way to the rapidly growing literature on the emotion-politics nexus. Nicos Mouzelis, European Institute, London school of Economics, UKTable of ContentsIntroduction; Nicolas Demertzis 1. The Theory of Affective Intelligence and Liberal Politics; George E. Marcus 2. Understanding Anxiety and Aversion: The Origins and Consequences of Affectivity in Political Campaigns; Tereza Capelos 3. Inside Stories: Oscar Wilde, Jean Améry, Nelson Mandela and Aung San Suu Kyi; Dennis Smith 4. Repression of Emotion: A Danger to Modern Societies?; Thomas Scheff 5. Feeling the Greek Financial Crisis; Bettina Davou and Nicolas Demertzis 6. Extremem Nationalism and the Hatred of the Liberal State; Barry Richards 7. Trauma and the Politics of Fear: Europe at the Crossroads; Catarina Kinnvall 8. Collective Fear and Societal Change; Jack Barbalet and Nicolas Demertzis 9. Emotions of Protest; Dunya van Troost, Jacquelin van Stekelenberg and Bert Klandermans 10. Revolutionary Potential under Soviet-Type Regimes: The Role of Emotions in Explaining Transitions and Non-Transitions; Steven Saxonberg 11. Affects in the Arab Uprisings; Wendy Pearlman 12. Emotions and Nationalism: A Reappraisal; Jonathan Heaney Conclusion; Nicolas Demertzis

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Book SynopsisThis new edition of Prejudice provides a comprehensive treatment of the subject, introducing the major theoretical ideas as well as providing a critical analysis of recent developments. Takes a social psychological perspective, analysing individual behavior as part of a pattern of intergroup processes Covers the major research, including classical personality accounts, developmental approaches, socio-cognitive research focussing on categorization and stereotyping, prejudice as an intergroup phenomenon, and ways to combat prejudice Illustrates concepts with examples of different kinds of prejudice drawn from everyday life Includes a new chapter on prejudice from the victim''s perspective Fully updated throughout, with expansion of the notions of explicit and implicit manifestations of prejudice Table of ContentsPreface. Acknowledgements. List of Figures. 1. The Nature of Prejudice. 2. Prejudiced Individuals. 3. Social Categorization and Prejudice. 4. Stereotyping and Prejudice. 5. The Development of Prejudice in Children. 6. Prejudice and Intergroup Relations. 7. Prejudice Old and New. 8. Prejudice from the Recipients’ Point of View. 9. Reducing Prejudice. Glossary of Key Terms. References. Subject Index. Author Index.

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Book SynopsisIn the early American republic, the concept of public opinion was a recent-and ambiguous-invention. While appearing to promise a new style and system of democratic and deliberative politics, the concept was also invoked to limit self-rule, cement traditional prejudices and hierarchies, forestall deliberation, and marginalize dissent. As Americans contested the meaning of this essentially contestable idea, they expanded and contracted the horizons of political possibility and renegotiated the terms of political legitimacy. Tracing the notion of public opinion from its late eighteenth-century origins to the Gilded Age, Mark G. Schmeller's Invisible Sovereign argues that public opinion is a central catalyst in the history of American political thought. Schmeller treats it as a contagious idea that infected a broad range of discourses and practices in powerful, occasionally ironic, and increasingly contentious ways. Ranging across a wide variety of historical fields, Invisible SovereiTrade ReviewThis is an extremely important contribution... He has written a fine book. It will be an essential point of departure for future explorations of public opinion in the American past Journal of the Civil War EraTable of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction Public Opinion and the American Political Imagination1. The Moral Economy of Opinion2. Credit and the Political Economy of Opinion3. Partisan Manufactories of Public Sentiment4. The Importance of Having Opinions5. The Fatal Force of Public Opinion6. Irrepressible Conflicts, Impending CrisesConclusion Corn-Pone OpinionsNotesEssay on SourcesIndex

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Book SynopsisWhat’s wrong with the UK economy? Everyone has an opinion. But no one has an answer. Why?For decades, our economy has failed to work for ordinary citizens: stagnant wages have been combined with underemployment and rising costs of basic goods like healthcare, education and housing. At the same time, a small minority of the population make obscene profits, while in the background we continue to hurtle headlong into an environmental emergency. While there is no shortage of anger and anti-elite sentiment expressed in what is often referred to as the ‘culture wars’, no significant challenge to the dominant economic model has broken into the mainstream.The pound and the fury argues that behind this failure of imagination are a set of myths about how the economy works, myths that stifle debate and block change. This book analyses the origins of these myths and how they might be dispelled at a time when, away from the public gaze, economic theory is opening up new possibilities of economic action. Possibilities that, as we emerge from the chaos of COVID-19, could lead to the radical structural changes we desperately need.Trade Review‘A brilliant expose of how our financial system continues to operate largely unquestioned based on a blueprint for confusing and exploiting people.’ Danny Dorling, author of Slowdown: The End of the Great Acceleration - and Why It's Good for the Planet, the Economy, and Our Lives ‘Read this book if you want to understand the discriminative and unfair power relations behind the economy and why the public are deliberately blinded by myth and disinformation.’ Oliver James, author of Affluenza: How to be successful and stay sane‘A must read for anyone interested in the economy and economic policy as we face up to the huge challenges of rising inequality, financial instability and environmental breakdown.’ Josh Ryan-Collins, Head of Finance and Macroeconomics at the Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose and co-author of Where Does Money Come From?'A brilliantly engaging exploration of the self-serving mythologies that sustain our economy in the face of its growing dysfunctions and inequalities. We can't afford not to read it.'Aeron Davis, author of Reckless opportunists: Elites at the end of the Establishment -- .Table of ContentsIntroduction1 Anger, confusion and the pot of money myth2 Churches of high finance: myth in the financial sector3 Magic money tree: myth in the political sphere4 Media myths5 Demythologising the economy: not a pot of moneyNotesIndex

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Book SynopsisTwenty-four news networks, a plethora of newspapers and magazines, vibrant news-talk radio, and the ubiquitous Internet highlight our society as information-driven. With such a steady stream of hard facts mixed with publicised opinions, the mainstream population has an opinion on everything. Most anyone seems itching to argue their side of an issue, making once private beliefs fodder for general consumption. A staple of any medium''s content is a regular public opinion poll on whatever hot topic strikes the editor''s fancy. From the significant to the mundane, public opinion permeates society. Accordingly, politicians have taken note of these opinions and adopted stands and values that put them in tune with public sentiment. An understanding of the nature of public opinion, therefore, is paramount in today''s world. This book assembles and presents a carefully chosen bibliography on public opinion in its many forms. The collection of references makes for a valuable resource in studying and researching the critical issue of public opinion. Easy access to these pieces of literature are then provided with author, title, and subject indexes.

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Book SynopsisAmerica faces four more years of reckless spending, crony capitalism, and the total annihilation of Constitutional checks and balances. Antle asks the question on the minds of millions of Americans: can big government ever be stopped?

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Book SynopsisThis book exposes the dark, evil ideology that has descended over America. The arch of the Hegelian dialectic culminates only in negation, with millions annihilated in the nightmare apocalypse of post-modernist Democratic Socialism.The Truth about Neo-Marxism, Cultural Maoism, and Anarchy: Exposing Woke Insanity in an Age of Disinformation reveals how Communist ideology has evolved into its present-day woke madness that began with Immanuel Kant and Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, continued through Antonio Gramsci and the Frankfurt School, and concluded with post-modern thinkers like Jean Baudrillard. Want to understand why the neo-Marxists, cultural Maoists, and anarchists of the woke critical theory radical Left live in a fundamentally different view of reality, operating with a set of values that redefines truth to be subjective? Read The Truth about Neo-Marxism, Cultural Maoism, and Anarchy—but be prepared to be shocked. Jerome R. Corsi has conducted a tour-de-force examination of philosophical texts, modern critical theory treatises, and the murderous history of Communism under Stalin and Mao that exposes the neo-Marxists behind today’s anti-capitalist woke schizophrenia.

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Book SynopsisAs seen on Tucker Carlson Murder, rape, sex trafficking, and hate—Crime Inc. explains how the Political Left utilized these tactics of organized crime to gain and maintain power in America.Vince Everett Ellison has written another massive takedown of the Political Left. In Crime Inc., Vince explains how murder, sex trafficking, defunding the police, and disarming law-abiding citizens are used as tools in a diabolical plan for power. Previously, the Political Left partnered with slave traders, the Confederacy, and the Ku Klux Klan. They now partner with Abortion Murderers, Perverts, Mexican Cartels, Black Lives Matter, and Antifa in their quest to maintain power. Crime Inc. is an indictment. It charges the entire Political Left with the crime of national sabotage and cultural genocide, with American Marxism as their ultimate goal. The Left has sabotaged the Black Community, the Government, Religion, the Arts, Education, the Family, and every institution they have touched in America. If you like the inner cities of Detroit, Memphis, Philadelphia, and Baltimore today, you will love America in ten years if the Left gets their way. Exposing their plans is the best way to stop this criminal activity. Anticipating their plans make you immune to them. Vince Everett Ellison provides the vaccine to the disease of the Left in Crime Inc.

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Book SynopsisThe United States Space Force has a noble mission—to protect America, to support our allies, and to support our nation’s interest as we, along with other nations, move out into the little patch of the universe that is our home system.The desire to establish a US Space Force has been around for decades, in both science fiction and in the minds of people who attempt to seriously consider what our nation needs in order to deter future wars (and if necessary, to fight and win them). As an institution, the US Space Force has gotten off to a shaky start; however, prolific space writer Taylor Dinerman has great confidence that someday soon, it will find the right leadership and eventually be emancipated from the Department of the Air Force. At that point, the institution can begin to truly serve the great cause of creating a spacefaring civilization—as it was always meant to.

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Book SynopsisFrom a brilliant investigative journalist formerly a Home Office insider comes a searing, nuanced, powerful exposé of Britain's broken asylum system.

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Book SynopsisWith a foreword by Isabel Hardman HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED...how people feel about sleeping with the political enemy? ...whether gambling markets are best at predicting political outcomes? ...who Santa Claus would vote for? Then look no further. More Sex, Lies and the Ballot Box brings us another collection of concise chapters penned by leading political experts and delving into the fascinating field of electoral politics. Following on from the success of its bestselling predecessor, this illuminating book shines a light on how we vote in Britain and around the world. You'll learn about the shifting landscape of party politics and the perceptions and misconceptions that shape our opinions of our politicians and of each other. You'll learn about the factors informing voter habits - from class, race and gender to the internet and the weather. You'll also learn which political party has the most sexually satisfied supporters. Forget mind-numbing numbers and difficult demographics. This sharp and frequently hilarious volume is fizzing with accessible facts and figures that are more than just conversation starters - they're unexpected insights into the human condition.Trade Review"Shrewd, witty, bravura de-bunking. The essential accessory for every political anorak. Each chapter is a cruel and forensic expose of the ill-informed cliches of political reporting. This book must be banned. The country's top political academics do their party pieces: bite-sized brilliant distillations of learning, like conjurers' table magic." - Gary Gibbon, Political Editor, Channel 4 News; "It's like Sgt Pepper but for political geeks." - Stephen Bush, New Statesman Special Correspondent; "A refreshingly accessible book of nuanced, witty insights that will be a welcome salve for those grappling with the current state of British politics." - LSE Review of Books

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Book SynopsisDonald Trump's election as President of the United States confounded the pundits and crowned a year of political surprises. In Hopes And Fears, Lord Ashcroft sets out in compelling detail why America sent Trump to the White House. With the rigorous research and analysis that is his hallmark, he argues that - contrary many people's assumptions - the American people made the choice with their eyes wide open. We hear from swing-state voters in their own words as they wrestle with their decision and explain why they, and their country, want change - with all the risks it may entail. Drawing the parallels with the UK's Brexit referendum, the book explores the lessons of 2016 for both parties, the divisions within the American electorate and what they mean for the future. For anyone wondering how America came to choose its new leader, Hopes And Fears has the answers.

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Book SynopsisThe 2017 general election was supposed to be a walkover for the Conservative Party – but the voters had other ideas. In The Lost Majority, Lord Ashcroft draws on his unique research to explain why the thumping victory the Tories expected never happened. His findings reveal what real voters made of the campaign, why Britain refused Theresa May’s appeal for a clear mandate to negotiate Brexit and where the party now stands after more than a decade of `modernisation’ . And, critically, Ashcroft examines the challenges the Tories face in building a winning coalition when 13 million votes is no longer enough for outright victory. This is an indispensible guide that will provide food for thought to anyone wishing to examine in detail what really happened on 8 June, 2017, and how this will impact on future elections.

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Book SynopsisThe start of 2019 is midway between the last presidential inauguration and the next – but will it also prove the halfway point in Donald Trump’s presidency? Following up Hopes and Fears, which set out in compelling detail why America sent Trump to the White House, Half-Time! brings together two years of groundbreaking research, exploring what the voters make of the President’s agenda and character, how they see the issues at stake and – with voices at the far ends of the political spectrum set to dominate the debate – how they are lining up for the 2020 election.

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Book SynopsisOpinion polls dominate media coverage of politics, especially elections. But how do the polls work? How do you tell the good from the bad? And in light of recent polling disasters, can we trust them at all? Polling UnPacked gives you the full story, from the first rudimentary polls in the nineteenth century, through attempts by politicians to ban polling in the twentieth century, to the very latest techniques and controversies from the last few years. In equal parts enlightening and hilarious, the book needs no prior knowledge of polling or statistics to understand. But even hardened pollsters will find much to enjoy, from how polling has been used to help plan military invasions to why an exhausted interviewer was accidentally instrumental in inventing exit polls. Written by a former political pollster and the creator of Britain's foremost polling-intention database, Polling UnPacked shows you which opinion polls to trust, which to ignore and which, frankly, to laugh at. It will change the way you see political coverage forever.Trade Review‘when it comes to polling, size doesn't matter – it's how you use it . . . We learn about this golden rule and many more in Polling Unpacked, a comprehensive yet surprisingly fun overview of modern opinion polling . . . His book is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand modern politics . . . Pack’s book is a timely manual for those wanting to spot good polls from bad ones.’ — Tom Calver, Sunday Times; ‘Mark’s book is bloody good. Wonderful blend of evidence and anecdote. And a great relief to me as I had been toying with writing something similar (though doubtless less good) – no need now.’ — David Lipsey, Chair, Lords Select Committee on Opinion Polls 2018; ‘Opinion polls dominate media coverage of politics, especially elections, but how do they work? How can you tell the good from the bad? And in light of recent polling disasters, can we even trust them? Polling UnPacked gives the full story, from the first rudimentary polls in the nineteenth century, through to attempts but politicians to ban polling in the 20th century, up to the very latest techniques and controversies. Written by the Lib Dem President Mark Pack who has extensive experience in conducting, commissioning and analysing political opinion polls, PollingUnPacked will reveal which opinion polls to trust, which to ignore and which to, frankly, laugh at.’ — Reaction; ‘I am so glad I read this valuable book. It wears its learning so lightly, but I found out so much I didn’t know and needed to know.’ — Daniel Finkelstein; ‘A must-have book for all who follow the polls that is both informative and a really good read. Mark Pack has done a great job.’ — Mike Smithson, PoliticalBetting.com

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Book Synopsis‘Our Lincolnshire’ (2015-16) was devised as a robust, multi-vocally informed exploration of the attitudes of residents and visitors in Lincolnshire to the county’s heritage and the ways in which they engage with it. The context for this was the recognition amongst the county heritage sector of a disconnect between citizens of Lincolnshire and heritage beyond the city of Lincoln which presents challenges when the purpose and function of museums and heritage services need to be reviewed, especially when funding issues are impacting on this process. Understanding attitudes and re-connecting the various audiences in Lincolnshire with their rural heritage in a meaningful and creative way is thus required to ensure the continued collection, curation and presentation of heritage assets is effective in caring for heritage now and for future generations and ensuring the heritage resource reflects, meets and advances the interests, needs and aspirations of Lincolnshire’s residents and visitors today. This volume outlines the methods, data, outcomes and recommendations that generated from this multi-dimensional and innovative research and engagement process.Table of ContentsExecutive Summary; 1. Introduction; 2. Our Lincolnshire Heritage Survey; 3. My Lincolnshire Collection: Creative Digital Web App; 4. Lincolnshire’s Cricket Heritage; 5. Performing Lincolnshire Heritage ; 6. Project Outputs ; 7. Conclusions; APPENDIX 1: LINCOLNSHIRE POSTCODES; APPENDIX 2: ‘OUR LINCOLNSHIRE’ HERITAGE SURVEY; APPENDIX 3: MY LINCOLNSHIRE COLLECTION; APPENDIX 4: CRICKET STRAND; APPENDIX 5: PERFORMANCE STRAND

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Book SynopsisExamining the nature of public opinion in democratic societies, this Handbook succinctly illustrates the importance of public opinion as an instrument of popular control and democratic accountability. Expert contributors in the field provide a thorough review of a variety of theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of this timely topic.The concise but comprehensive chapters investigate the theoretical value of biological, contextual, psychological, sociological and economic perspectives when exploring public opinion. The Handbook also demonstrates useful insights that can be generated from quantitative or qualitative research designs from both an observational and experimental perspective. Furthermore, its informative assessment of the origins and structure of how public opinion is formed allows for a greater understanding of how policies are developed as a result.Providing a state-of-the-art review, this Handbook will be an excellent study resource for scholars of public opinion in political science, sociology and psychology. Political practitioners, particularly government officials, political operatives and pollsters will also find this informative and illuminating.Trade Review‘In the face of widespread polarisation, democracies in retreat, and crises of global proportions, a need has arisen to explore the individual and societal causes, interactions, and implications of these profound developments. This impressively comprehensive Handbook addresses this challenging task by focusing on the central role of public opinion, leaving hardly any question unanswered.’ -- Sonja Zmerli, Sciences Po Grenoble, France‘Two things make this volume entirely irresistible. The first is the line-up of quite prominent, well-versed, and insightful scholars contributing chapters, and the second is the breadth and depth of public opinion topics covered. I started reading this book by ticking off in the table of contents the chapters I wanted to read closely. I was then amazed to find that I had selected nearly all the chapters. This Handbook will prove invaluable for students of public opinion, including undergraduates, graduate students, and the professoriate.’ -- James Gibson, Washington University in St. Louis, USTable of ContentsContents: 1 Public opinion and democracy 1 Thomas J. Rudolph PART I THE MEANING AND MEASUREMENT OF PUBLIC OPINION 2 Diagnosing survey response quality 10 D. Sunshine Hillygus and Tina LaChapelle 3 The quantitative assessment of public opinion 26 Allyson L. Holbrook and Joanne M. Miller 4 The qualitative study of public opinion 41 Katherine J. Cramer 5 Implicit attitudes and mass political opinion 54 Efrén O. Pérez and Bianca V. Vicuña PART II THE ORIGINS OF PUBLIC OPINION 6 Genopolitics 71 Gergő Závecz and Levente Littvay 7 Personality, public opinion, and politics 83 Megan L. Remmel and Jeffery J. Mondak 8 Political socialization 99 Marc Hooghe PART III THE STRUCTURE OF PUBLIC OPINION 9 The conditional nature of ideology in mass publics 112 Nathan P. Kalmoe 10 Core values 128 Paul Goren 11 Ambivalence in mass politics 141 Marco Steenbergen 12 Partisanship and public opinion 168 Ianne S. Wang and Samara Klar 13 Race and public opinion: American dilemma, American divide 178 Davin L. Phoenix and Francisco Jasso 14 Public opinion and gender 193 Mary-Kate Lizotte 15 The religious politics of threat in religion and politics research 208 Paul A. Djupe PART IV ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES ON PUBLIC OPINION 16 Electoral geography, political behavior and public opinion 224 James G. Gimpel and Andrew Reeves 17 Media effects and news exposure: new forms of data to address old questions 241 Susan Banducci, Laszlo Horvath, Ekaterina Kolpinskaya and Daniel Stevens 18 Affective polarization in the American public 257 James N. Druckman and Jeremy Levy PART V THE PSYCHOLOGY OF PUBLIC OPINION 19 Heuristics and cues 272 Cheryl Boudreau 20 Emotions in politics: The relevance of groups 283 Bethany Albertson and Benjamin T. White 21 Motivated reasoning in politics 298 Eric Groenendyk PART VI PUBLIC OPINION AND DEMOCRATIC CITIZENSHIP 22 Political knowledge 313 Jennifer Wolak 23 Political tolerance in an age of liberal democratic backsliding 328 Mark Peffley and Robert Rohrschneider 24 New thrusts and new opportunities in the study of citizen performance in democratic societies 341 James H. Kuklinski and Benjamin Miller PART VII PUBLIC OPINION AND GOVERNMENT 25 The nature of political trust in mass publics 355 Marc J. Hetherington and Thomas J. Rudolph 26 On collective representation 369 Ross Buchanan, Megan Dias, and Christopher Wlezien 27 Courts and public opinion: a critical review 382 Brandon L. Bartels PART VIII PUBLIC OPINION AND PUBLIC POLICY 28 Economic opinion 399 Spencer Goidel and Paul M. Kellstedt 29 Economic self-interest in public opinion about immigration 411 Morris Levy and Matthew Wright 30 Public opinion and foreign policy: beyond the “electoral connection” 428 Peter Gries and Tao Wang Index

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Book SynopsisElgar Research Agendas outline the future of research in a given area. Leading scholars are given the space to explore their subject in provocative ways, and map out the potential directions of travel. They are relevant but also visionary.Bringing together contributions from a diverse range of international scholars, A Research Agenda for Public Attitudes to Welfare draws upon past and contemporary research methods used to study citizens’ attitudes to welfare. It highlights the rapidly growing research potential within the field, examining both new and understudied social policies to map out a comprehensive agenda for future research. This essential Research Agenda offers crucial suggestions to broaden the scope of research in the field and expand our knowledge of public attitudes to welfare. Chapters examine support for new social welfare policies such as active labour market policies, Universal Basic Income, and Social Europe, as well as investigating support among understudied subgroups in the population and over the life course. It ultimately emphasizes the importance of applying different analytical and methodological perspectives in order to understand public attitudes to welfare more thoroughly. Employing a diverse range of data and methods, this informative Research Agenda will benefit scholars of sociology, social policy, political science, and economics seeking to gain insight on public attitudes to welfare and welfare states. It will also be useful to social policy professionals and officials endeavouring to reflect on the progress of research within the field.Trade Review‘The book reveals the ideas, methods and aspirations of talented scholars seeking to understand public attitudes towards the welfare state. In their words, building on an unfinished La Sagrada Familia cathedral. In my opinion, the major strength of the book is the non-findings. How losing a job doesn’t matter. How the inflow of migrants doesn’t matter. How early institutions don’t matter. Such knowledge is seldom found in journal articles. The book is also filled with good ideas about better construction methods. Illustrated in a trial-and-error fashion. The use of panel data. The mix of qualitative and quantitative methods. The sensitivity to context. These ideas and suggestions are crucial for anyone wanting to contribute to this scholarly field. The book leaves me with a small puzzle, though. Why do we want to build a cathedral?’ -- Christian Albrekt Larsen, Aalborg University, Denmark‘The institutions of the welfare state, which support millions of people globally, can only function efficiently and effectively when they are considered “just” by the public. It is therefore essential for academics and policymakers to understand how and why public attitudes change and differ cross-nationally in order to comprehend the basis for the legitimacy of our solidarity systems. This interesting and timely book offers a new perspective on innovative approaches to the study of public attitudes to welfare state policies, and individual and contextual level predictors and dynamics. On the basis of an impressive collection of chapters, it makes a significant, new contribution to comparative welfare state research.’ -- Birgit Pfau-Effinger, University of Hamburg, Germany‘The welfare state is a large machine redistributing resources and compensating social risks. This edited volume addresses the quest for welfare state legitimacy by studying social attitudes. It impressively expands our knowledge on welfare state support by researching changes over time and contextual factors as well as scrutinizing understudied fields of social policy.’ -- Steffen Mau, Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany‘Welfare states change their approach, focus and instruments in response to newly emerging challenges. Therefore, the study of welfare attitudes must constantly innovate to keep us informed about the social legitimacy of the new pathways welfare is taking. This book convincingly presents an innovative agenda for such study. Its empirical chapters exemplify the research lines set out by it, thereby showing the agenda’s highly promising appeal as a guide for future research on public attitudes to welfare.’BR> -- Wim van Oorschot, KU Leuven, Belgium‘This timely overview of the field points to the wealth of new data-sources and new methods in welfare state attitude research. It makes the case for new applications to consider a broader range of policies and issues, for the expansion of theoretical and explanatory work and identification of the attitudinal triggers which contribute to attitude change and perhaps to a more generous welfare state politics.’BR> -- Peter Taylor-Gooby, University of Kent, UKTable of ContentsContents: 1 Introduction to A Research Agenda for Public Attitudes to Welfare 1 Femke Roosma and Tijs Laenen 2 Labour market policy preferences in the context of migration 25 Dominique Oehrli and Isabelle Stadelmann-Steffen 3 From national welfare states to Social Europe: welfare attitudes in the context of European integration 55 Sharon Baute 4 New directions in research on public support for universal basic income 83 Marie-Laure Mulayi, Tijs Laenen, Wim Van Lancker and Bart Meuleman 5 Political awareness and the structure of support for the welfare state 105 Jason Jordan 6 Just institutions for those most in need? Quantitative and qualitative bottom-up perspectives on the perceived legitimacy of a social assistance reform: a focus on food aid recipients in Finland 123 Helena Blomberg and Christian Kroll 7 Varieties of welfare populism; radical right voters between chauvinism and producerism 143 Thierry Kochuyt, Koen Abts and Femke Roosma 8 Support for the welfare state over the life course: analysing individual attitude change with multiwave panel data 163 Elias Nauman 9 Institutional trajectories of the welfare state: returns from social policy inception to modern public opinion 187 Nate Breznau 10 Context as a part of our cases: the potential of qualitative work in welfare attitudes research 209 Katharina Zimmermann 11 Conclusion: welfare attitudes research as cathedral under permanent construction 231 Tijs Laenen and Femke Roosma Index

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