American Difference: A Guide to American Politics in Comparative Perspective

by Lori M. Poloni-Staudinger, Michael R. Wolf

Overview

Examining democracies from a comparative perspective helps us better understand why politics—or, as Harold Lasswell famously said, “who gets what, when, and how”—differ among democracies. American Difference: A Guide to American Politics in Comparative Perspective takes you through different aspects of democracy—political culture, institutions, interest groups, political parties, and elections—and, unlike other works, explores how the United States is both different from and similar to other democracies.

The fully updated Second Edition has been expanded to include several new chapters and discussion on civil liberties and civil rights, constitutional arrangements, elections and electoral institutions, and electoral behavior. This edition also includes data around the 2016 general election and 2018 midterm election

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781544325330
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	03/05/2019
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	312
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Dr. Lori M. Poloni-Staudinger (Ph D, Indiana University, 2005) is Associate Dean for research, personnel, and graduate programs in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and a Professor of Political Science at Northern Arizona University. Her research and publications focus on social movements, political contention and extra-institutional participation, and political institutions, mainly in Western Europe. Her recent work examines questions around women and political violence. She was a Distinguished Fulbright Fellow at the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna, Austria, and has served as a consultant for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. She also taught at University of the Basque Country in San Sebastian, Spain. She served as treasurer, vice president and president of the Women’s Caucus for the Midwest Political Science Association. Lori is a Kettering Foundation Fellow and also serves as vice president of a school board and president of a non-profit board in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Dr. Michael R. Wolf (Ph D, Indiana University, 2002) is aa professor and department chair in the Department of Political Science at Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne. His research focuses on comparative and American public opinion and political behavior. He has recently published on the nature and effects of political discussion in democracies and the dynamics of political compromise and political incivility. He is a research a research fellow with the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics, and former Lugar Senior Fellow, 2017 Arts and Sciences Distinguished Lecturer, and partner with the Kettering Foundation.

Table of Contents

Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
Chapter 1: American Politics from a Comparative Perspective
What Does It Mean to Examine American Politics from a Comparative Perspective?
Is American Democracy the Best Type of Democracy?
Why Is It Important to Examine American Politics from a Comparative Perspective?
What to Expect in the Following Chapters
How to Use This Book
Key Terms
Review Questions
Notes
Chapter 2: Similarities between the United States and Other Democracies
Definition of Democracy
Procedural Democracy
Public Contestation (Competition) and Inclusion (Participation)
Freedoms
Socioeconomic Development
Conclusion
Points to Remember
Key Terms
Review Questions
Suggested Readings
Notes
Chapter 3: American Exceptionalism
Differing Views of Governing Legitimacy
Functional Explanations for American Exceptionalism
Social Democracy and Liberal Democracy
Conclusion
Points to Remember
Key Terms
Review Questions
Suggested Readings
Notes
Chapter 4: Political Beliefs: Political Culture and Ideology
Political Culture
Civic Culture
Political Engagement: Political Interest
Interpersonal Trust, Reciprocity, and Social Capital
Political Efficacy: Free Choice and Control over Life
Distinction of American Cultural Beliefs
Individualism and Economy
Ideology
Conclusion
Points to Remember
Key Terms
Review Questions
Suggested Readings
Notes
Chapter 5: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
Explaining Differing Levels of Civil Rights and Liberties
Civil Liberties in Practice
Civil Rights in Practice
Conclusion
Points to Remember
Key Terms
Review Questions
Suggested Readings
Notes
Chapter 6: Constitutional Arrangements
Constitutional Arrangement: Constitutional Longevity
Constitutional Arrangement: Majoritarian and Consociational Democracies
Vertical Organization of Government: Unitary, Federal, and Confederal Systems
Conclusion
Points to Remember
Key Terms
Review Questions
Suggested Readings
Notes
Chapter 7: Governing Institutions
National Governing Institutions
The Legislative Branch
The Executive Branch
Judiciary
Conclusion
Points to Remember
Key Terms
Review Questions
Suggested Readings
Notes
Chapter 8: Interest Groups
Interest Groups, Social Movements, and Social Movement Organizations
Interest Group Life Cycle
Pluralist Versus Neo-Corporatist Interest Group Arrangements
Why Pluralist or Neo-Corporatist?
Role of Interest Groups in the United States Historically and Today
Types of Groups
New Social Movements
How Do Groups Participate in Politics?
Conclusion
Points to Remember
Key Terms
Review Questions
Suggested Readings
Notes
Chapter 9: Political Parties
Party History and Formation
American Party Development—Why Aren’t Parties as Strong?
The Founding and the Aversion to Parties
The Nature of American Parties
Where Are the American Cleavages?
Role of Parties in Government
American Two-Party System Versus Other Party Systems
An Americanization of Parties Elsewhere or More Party Government in the United States?
Conclusion
Points to Remember
Key Terms
Review Questions
Suggested Readings
Notes
Chapter 10: Elections and Electoral Institutions
Candidate Selection
Electoral Institutions
Plurality, Majority, and Proportional Representation Systems
Consequences of Electoral Systems
Conclusion
Key Terms
Review Questions
Suggested Readings
Notes
Chapter 11: Electoral Behavior
Introduction
Context of Elections and Campaigns
Voting Behavior: Electoral Participation
Political Party Mobilization: Weak Party Organization in the United States
Campaign Information Flow
Clarity of Electoral Choice: Liberalism and Limited Government
Evaluating the Consequences of the Electoral Context on Voter Participation
Electoral Behavior: Determinants of Vote Choice
Nonvoting Behavior
Consequences of Electoral Laws, Context, and Voting for Democracy
Conclusion
Points to Remember
Key Terms
Review Questions
Suggested Readings
Notes
Chapter 12: Conclusion
Notes

Editorial Reviews

This book follows the Tocquevillian logic that the best way to understand American politics is to compare to other nations. American Difference offers a very readable and engaging introduction to what is distinct about American political institutions, culture, interest groups, and party politics—and the implications of these differences. A strong addition to any American politics course.

Russell Dalton

Most of my students assume that all democracies maintain a two-party system, a separation of powers, a federal system, and a strong tradition of freedom of speech. What they need is in [this] excellent book. It gives students a comparative perspective on what is exceptional in the American democratic design, what leads democracies to differ from and resemble one another, and how these differences and similarities affect students' lives. I strongly recommend the authors’ approach and their book.

Marjorie R. Hershey