Strategic Disagreement: Stalemate in American Politics / Edition 1

by John Gilmour

Overview

Politics may be the art of compromise, but accepting a compromise can be hazardous to a politician's health. Politicians worry about betraying faithful supporters, about losing the upper hand on an issue before the next election, that accepting half a loaf today can make it harder to get the whole loaf tomorrow. In his original interpretation of competition between parties and between Congress and the president, Gilmour explains the strategies available to politicians who prefer to disagree and uncovers the lost opportunities to pass important legislation that result from this disagreement.

Strategic Disagreement, theoretically solid and rich in evidence, will enlighten Washington observers frustrated by the politics of gridlock and will engage students interested in organizational theory, political parties, and divided government.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780822955757
Publisher:	University of Pittsburgh Press
Publication date:	11/16/1995
Series:	Pitt Series in Policy and Institutional Studies
Edition description:	1
Pages:	184
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

John B. Gilmour is assistant professor of government at the College of William and Mary.

Editorial Reviews

"The analysis is smart, original, and backed up by impressive documentation. Gilmour has absolute command of relevant legislative history during the last half century. . . . No work like this exists in print. It commands attention."
--David R. Mayhew

From the Publisher

Examines the efforts of politicians to avoid reaching an agreement when compromise might alienate their supporters, damage their prospects in an upcoming election, or preclude getting a better deal in the future. The phenomenon is not extremely common but is important because it tends to affect such critical issues as health care, education, welfare, and the budget deficit. Paper edition (unseen), $14.95. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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