Description
Book SynopsisUsing classic theories to explain individuals' political decisions, this volume examines what influences these decisions. Supported by the research of the Columbia school of electoral sociology, this view is contrasted with rational choice theory and the Michigan school of electoral analysis. Written by a range of political scientists, this volume advances theory and method in the study of political behavior and returns the social logic of politics to the heart of political science.
Trade Review"In the classic sociological tradition of the Columbia School, this impressive collection of studies explores the impact of families, friends, workplaces, and communities on our political choices and behavior. The imaginative research in this volume amply demonstrates that, despite the imposing presence of the mass media, we continue to be shaped in significant ways by the company we keep."-Dennis Chong, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Professor, Northwestern University, Department of Political Science "The Social Logic of Politics addresses the question of sociological influences on political behavior, and the essays in this volume do in fact succeed in this purpose, offering a significant contribution in this area. Zuckerman brings the original sociological themes and research of Lazarsfeld and his colleagues into the 21st century, and the scholarship here is state-of-the-art, showcasing a wide range of data and methodologies."-Robert Shapiro, Columbia University "Overall, this is an important collection of essays... an essential read."-Perspectives on Politics
Table of ContentsList of Tables and FiguresPreface and AcknowledgmentsAbout the ContributorsIntroduction: Theoretical and Methodological Context1. Returning to the Social Logic of Politics - Alan S. Zuckerman2. Individuals, Dyads, and Networks: Autoregressive Patterns of Political Influence - Robert Huckfeldt, Paul E. Johnson, and John SpraguePart I. Families as Sources of Strong Political Ties3. Political Similarity and Influence between Husbands and Wives - Laura Stoker and M. Kent Jennings4. Do Couples Support the Same Political Parties? Sometimes: Evidence from British and German Household Panel Surveys - Alan S. Zuckerman, Jennifer Fitzgerald, and Josip Dasovic5. Family Ties: Understanding the Intergenerational Transmission of Political Participation - Sidney Verba, Kay Lehman Schlozman, and Nancy BurnsPart II. Friends, Workmates, Neighbors, and Political Contexts: The Effects of Weak Ties on Electoral Choices and Political Participation6. Changing Class Locations and Partisanship in Germany - Ulrich Kohler7. Choosing Alone? The Social Network Basis of Modern Political Choice - Jeffrey Levine8. Friends and Politics: Linking Diverse Friendship Networks to Political Participation - Laurence Kotler-Berkowitz9. Networks, Gender, and the Use of State Authority: Evidence from a Study of Arab Immigrants in Detroit - Ann Chih Lin10. Putting Voters in their Places: Local Context and Voting in England and Wales, 1997 - Ron J. Johnston and Charles J. Pattie11. Party Identification, Local Partisan Contexts, and the Acquisition of Participatory Attitudes - James G. Gimpel and J. Celeste Lay12. Macro-Politics and Micro-Behavior: Mainstream Politics and the Frequency of Political Discussion in Contemporary Democracies - Christopher J. Anderson and Aida PaskeviciutePart III. The Social Logic of Politics: Looking Ahead13. Agent-Based Explanations for the Survival of Disagreement in Social Networks - Paul E. Johnson and Robert Huckfeldt14. Turnout in a Small World - James H. FowlerNotesReferencesIndex
