Do politicians listen to the public? How often and when? Or are the views of the public manipulated or used strategically by political and economic elites? Navigating Public Opinion brings together leading scholars of American politics to assess and debate these questions. It describes how the relationship between opinion and policy has changed over time; how key political actors use public opinion to formulate domestic and foreign policy; and how new measurement techniques might improve our understanding of public opinion in contemporary polling and survey research. The distinguished contributors shed new light on several long-standing controversies over policy responsiveness to public opinion. Featuring a new analysis by Robert Erikson; Michael MacKuen; and James Stimson that builds from their pathbreaking work on how public mood moves policy in a macro-model of policymaking; the volume also includes several critiques of this model by Lawrence Jacobs and Robert Shapiro; another critique by G. William Domhoff; and a rejoinder by Erikson and his coauthors. Other highlights include discussions of how political elites; including state-level policymakers; presidents; and makers of foreign policy; use (or shape) public opinion; and analyses of new methods for measuring public opinion such as survey-based experiments; probabilistic polling methods; non-survey-based measures of public opinion; and the potential and limitations of Internet polls and surveys. Introductory and concluding essays provide useful background context and offer an authoritative summary of what is known about how public opinion influences public policy. A must-have for all students of American politics; public opinion; and polling; this state-of-the-art collection addresses issues that lie at the heart of democratic governance today.
#28381 in Books 2000-07-27Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 5.30 x .70 x 7.90l; .54 #File Name: 0195139410288 pages
Review
66 of 67 people found the following review helpful. A Brilliant Secular History Of The Jews- Beautifully WrittenBy Jana L.PerskieRaymond P. Scheindlin has managed to write; in 263 pages; an accurate; secular and very readable history of the Jewish people. He takes the reader; chronologically; from the period of the first known references to the Israelites outside the Bible; (1220 B.C.E.); an Egyptian inscription commemorating the victory of the pharaoh Marniptah over the wandering tribe; to the declaration of Israeli statehood in 1948; and further still to the present peace negotiations in the Middle East. This sweeping and highly informative work presents the major geographical; cultural and political forces that have determined the course of Jewish history. Scheindlin also discusses the many individuals; secular and religious; who have shaped the mindset and character of the Jewish people.I am taking a course in Jewish history and asked my professor for "an excellent but readable book" on the subject. I told him I wanted to be able to "enjoy the reading process as well as study." He immediately suggested Rabbi Scheindlin's "A Short History of the Jewish People." I must say that if it is possible to call a history book "riveting" and "compelling" and still maintain credibility; I will say it. I could not put the book down! The text is beautifully written and the history itself; as well as the people who made it; are fascinating. The book also serves as an excellent outline of Jewish History and has assisted me in understanding the course's assigned texts. Highly recommended!JANA6 of 7 people found the following review helpful. Very Impressive Short HistoryBy Epistem QuestHaving recently completed a long book on the Holocaust; I wanted to read a short history of the Jewish people. The Holocaust book caused me to desire a more complete understanding of the history of anti-Semitism. In other words; what went on before the Holocaust? Professor Scheindlin's book helped to answer some of my questions.The book starts at the year 1220 B.C.E. and ends in modern times (the copyright on my edition is 1998). I learned a lot from this book. I was fascinated by the Third and Fourth Lateran Councils; and how their injunctions adversely affected the Jews. Professor Scheindlin writes; "The Third Lateran Council; in 1179; was an important milestone; since it revived some long-neglected restrictions on the Jews; some of which were designed to bring about the social separation of Jews and Christians. Jews were prohibited from having Christian servants or employees; Christians were prohibited from living in Jewish neighborhoods; and the testimony of a Christian was to be accepted against that of a Jew. The Fourth Lateran Council; in 1215; took a decisive step further toward the segregation of Jews by creating the hated Jewish badge; which labeled every single Jew as a shameful outcast. It also prohibited Jews from holding public office and from appearing in public on Easter and certain other holy days." The purpose of sharing this quote from the book is twofold. First; I want to show what a good writer Professor Scheindlin is. Second; I want to show some parallels in how the Jews were treated in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries; and the twentieth century. History can indeed repeat itself.There is much more to the book than the small slice of history quoted above. If you are looking for a concise and well-written history of the Jewish people; I highly recommend this book. I'm sure I will read it again.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Great overview of Jewish historyBy T. SmithI learned a lot in a relatively short period of time. Author is obviously authoritative on the subject.
