Description
Book SynopsisWhy do politicians frequently heed the preferences of small groups of citizens over those of the general public? Breaking new theoretical ground, Benjamin Bishin explains how the desires of small groups, which he calls âsubconstituencies,â often trump the preferences of much larger groups.
Tyranny of the Minority provides a âunified theory of representation,â based in social psychology and supported by extensive analyses of legislatorsâ voting behavior, that explains how citizensâ knowledge and participation affects candidatesâ behaviour in campaigns and legislatorsâ behaviour in Congress. Demonstrating the wide applicability of the theory, the book traces politiciansâ behavior on a wide range of issues, including the Cuban trade embargo, the extension of hate crimes legislation to protect gays and lesbians, the renewal of the assault weapons ban, abortion politics, and Congressâs battle to recognize the Armenian genocide. It offers a unique explanation of why and how special interests dominate American national politics.
Trade Review"In Tyranny of the Minority, Bishin makes a valuable contribution to the literature by asking why minorities sometimes get their way over majority wishes. He makes a compelling case, presenting the conflicting implications of majoritarian representation models. This is a very well-written, clear and interesting book, and Bishin's work invites vigorous future debate. If you are interested in democratic theory, the logic of representation, and congress in general, you will want to read this book."
—Robin Kolodny, Associate Professor of Political Science, Temple University
Table of ContentsPreface
1. “¡Quitemos a Castro Ahora!”
2. The Subconstituency Politics Theory of Representation
3. Overcoming Ignorance and Apathy: Testing Individual-Level Implications of Representation Theories
4. Subconstituencies in Campaigns
5. Subconstituencies in Congress
6. Heterogeneity and Representation Reconsidered
7. The Myth of Issue Visibility
8. Conclusion
Notes
References
Index
