Democracy for Hire
Title | Democracy for Hire PDF eBook |
Author | Dennis W. Johnson |
Publisher | Oxford University Press |
Pages | 617 |
Release | 2017 |
Genre | Business & Economics |
ISBN | 0190272694 |
This book is a history of political consulting in America, examining how the consulting business developed, highlighting the major figures in the consulting industry and assessing the impact of professional consulting on elections and American democracy. A key focus is on presidential elections, beginning in 1964, and the important role played by consultants and political operatives.
Democracy for Hire
Title | Democracy for Hire PDF eBook |
Author | Dennis W. Johnson |
Publisher | |
Pages | 591 |
Release | 2016 |
Genre | POLITICAL SCIENCE |
ISBN | 9780190272722 |
This work provides a history of political consulting in America, examining how the consulting business developed, highlighting the major figures in the consulting industry and assessing the impact of professional consulting on elections and American democracy
Grassroots for Hire
Title | Grassroots for Hire PDF eBook |
Author | Edward T. Walker |
Publisher | Cambridge University Press |
Pages | 299 |
Release | 2014-04-03 |
Genre | Social Science |
ISBN | 113991619X |
Although 'grassroots' conjures up images of independent citizen organizing, much mass participation today is sponsored by elite consultants working for corporations and powerful interest groups. This book pulls back the curtain to reveal a lucrative industry of consulting firms that incentivize public activism as a marketable service. Edward Walker illustrates how, spurred by the post-sixties advocacy explosion and rising business political engagement, elite consultants have deployed new technologies to commercialize mass participation. Using evidence from interviews, surveys and public records, Grassroots for Hire paints a detailed portrait of these consultants and their clients. Today, Fortune 500 firms hire them to counter-mobilize against regulation, protest or controversy. Ironically, some advocacy groups now outsource organizing to them. Walker also finds that consultants are reshaping both participation and policymaking, but unethical 'astroturf' strategies are often ineffective. This pathbreaking book calls for a rethinking of interactions between corporations, advocacy groups, and elites in politics.
Politics for Hire
Title | Politics for Hire PDF eBook |
Author | Stefan Svallfors |
Publisher | Edward Elgar Publishing |
Pages | 160 |
Release | 2020-12-25 |
Genre | Political Science |
ISBN | 1800375190 |
This ground-breaking book investigates the work of policy professionals. They consist of political actors who, although not elected to office, are nonetheless employed to affect policy and politics on a partisan basis. Through an analysis of the influence and power they wield, this book sheds light on how the growth of this group represents a major transformation of the organization of politics and policy-making in advanced democracies.
Campaigns, Elections, and the Threat to Democracy
Title | Campaigns, Elections, and the Threat to Democracy PDF eBook |
Author | Dennis W. Johnson |
Publisher | Oxford University Press |
Pages | 273 |
Release | 2022 |
Genre | Campaign management |
ISBN | 0197641970 |
"This book offers the most up-to-date examination of campaigns and elections, along with the threats to democracy coming from the 2020 presidential election, the Big Lie, and more recent attempts to stifle democratic involvement. Frequent and fair elections, open to all, are fundamental elements of a democracy. The United States, through its local, state, and national con-tests holds more elections, more often, than any other democracy in the world. But in recent years, there have been troubling signs that our system of campaigns and elections has become much more fragile than we had previously thought. Campaigns have changed profoundly: social media and viral messaging compete with traditional media, Supreme Court decisions on campaign finance law now encourage mega-donors and have given the green light to all-out partisan gerrymandering. Voters are more polarized, and thanks mostly to Donald Trump, the whole legitimacy of elections is called into question. Further, we have faced the threat of foreign influence in our national elections. This book addresses fundamental questions about who votes in American elections, how legislative districts are drawn up, the empty charges of voter fraud, the pros and cons of reforming the Electoral College, the impact of dark money on campaigns, and the role of political consultants. This is not simply a book on how campaigns are run, but why campaigns and elections are integral components of American democracy and how those fundamental elements are vulnerable to abuse"--
Campaigns and Elections
Title | Campaigns and Elections PDF eBook |
Author | Dennis W. Johnson |
Publisher | Oxford University Press, USA |
Pages | 225 |
Release | 2019 |
Genre | POLITICAL SCIENCE |
ISBN | 0190935588 |
Frequent and fair elections, open to all, are fundamental elements of a democracy. The United States, through its local, state, and national contests, holds more elections, more often, than any other democracy in the world. But in recent years, there have been troubling signs that our system of campaigns and elections has become much more fragile than we had previously thought. More specifically, in the past twenty years, campaigns have changed profoundly: social media and viral messaging compete with traditional media, races once considered local in nature have become nationalized, Supreme Court decisions on campaign finance law now encourage mega-donors, voters are more polarized, party affiliation has waned, and the middle ideological ground has given way to extremist language and voter rage. Twice in sixteen years we have seen winning presidential candidates gaining fewer popular votes than their opponents. The fundamental right of every citizen to vote has been impeded by state legislatures demanding tighter access, more identification, and accusations of voter fraud. And we have faced the real threat of foreign influence in our national elections. This book offers the most up-to-date examination of campaigns and elections, including the challenges and opportunities they present. It addresses fundamental questions about who votes in American elections, how legislative districts are reapportioned and why it matters, the realities of voter fraud, the pros and cons of reforming the Electoral College, the impact of dark money on campaigns, and the role of political consultants and specialists, among other topics. Given the fragility of our election process, what are the threats to a healthy American democracy? Do the candidates with the most money always win? This is not simply a book on how campaigns are run, but why campaigns and elections are integral components of American democracy and how those fundamental elements may be vulnerable to misuse.
No Place for Amateurs
Title | No Place for Amateurs PDF eBook |
Author | Dennis W. Johnson |
Publisher | Psychology Press |
Pages | 340 |
Release | 2001 |
Genre | Business & Economics |
ISBN | 9780415928366 |
Offers an insider's tour through the fast-paced, often sordid world of the professional political campaign.