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Books > Social sciences > Politics & government > Political structure & processes
The American vice presidency, as the saying goes, 'is not worth a
bucket of warm spit.' Yet vice presidential candidates, many people
believe, can make all the difference in winning-or losing-a
presidential election. Is that true, though? Did Sarah Palin, for
example, sink John McCain's campaign in 2008? Did Joe Biden help
Barack Obama win? Do running mates actually matter? In the first
book to put this question to a rigorous test, Christopher J. Devine
and Kyle C. Kopko draw upon an unprecedented range of empirical
data to reveal how, and how much, running mates influence voting in
presidential elections. Building on their previous work in The VP
Advantage and evidence from over 200 statistical models spanning
the 1952 to 2016 presidential elections, the authors analyze three
pathways by which running mates might influence vote choice. First,
of course, they test for direct effects, or whether evaluations of
the running mate influence vote choice among voters in general.
Next, they test for targeted effects-if, that is, running mates win
votes among key subsets of voters who share their gender, religion,
ideology, or geographic identity. Finally, the authors examine
indirect effects-that is, whether running mates shape perceptions
of the presidential candidate who selected them, which in turn
influence vote choice. Here, in this last category, is where we see
running mates most clearly influencing presidential
voting-especially when it comes to their qualifications for holding
office and taking over as president, if necessary. Picking a
running mate from a key voting bloc probably won't make a
difference, the authors conclude. But picking an experienced,
well-qualified running mate will make the presidential candidate
look better to voters---and win some votes. With its wealth of data
and expert analysis, this finely crafted study, the most
comprehensive to date, finally provides clear answers to one of the
most enduring questions in presidential politics: can the running
mate make a difference in this election?
This innovative study explores the interface between
nation-building and refugee rehabilitation in post-partition India.
Relying on archival records and oral histories, Uditi Sen analyses
official policy towards Hindu refugees from eastern Pakistan to
reveal a pan-Indian governmentality of rehabilitation. This
governmentality emerged in the Andaman Islands, where Bengali
refugees were recast as pioneering settlers. Not all refugees,
however, were willing or able to live up to this top-down vision of
productive citizenship. Their reminiscences reveal divergent
negotiations of rehabilitation 'from below'. Educated refugees from
dominant castes mobilised their social and cultural capital to
build urban 'squatters' colonies', while poor Dalit refugees had to
perform the role of agricultural pioneers to access aid. Policies
of rehabilitation marginalised single and widowed women by treating
them as 'permanent liabilities'. These rich case studies
dramatically expand our understanding of popular politics and
everyday citizenship in post-partition India.
Few Americans and even fewer citizens of other nations understand
the electoral process in the United States. Still fewer understand
the role played by political parties in the electoral process or
the ironies within the system. Participation in elections in the
United States is much lower than in the vast majority of mature
democracies. Perhaps this is because of the lack of competition in
a country where only two parties have a true chance of winning,
despite the fact that a large number of citizens claim allegiance
to neither and think badly of both. Or perhaps it is because in the
U.S. campaign contributions disproportionately favor incumbents in
most legislative elections, or that largely unregulated groups such
as the now notorious 527 organizations have as much impact on the
outcome of a campaign as do the parties or the candidates'
campaigns. For instance, in two of the last six presidential
elections, the winner of the popular vote lost the election in the
Electoral College; in two others, a change of fewer than 100,000
votes in selected states would have led to the same result. These
factors offer a very clear picture of the problems that underlie
our much trumpeted electoral system. The third edition of this Very
Short Introduction analyzes these issues and more. Accounting for
changes in electoral coalitions and the extent to which the
American electorate is polarized in the wake of Donald Trump, L.
Sandy Maisel explains how the system actually works while shining a
light on some of its flaws. He also looks closely at turnout
questions; efforts both to ease access to the ballot in some states
and to restrict access in others; and the role of social media in
campaign strategy.
The second edition of Democracy for All: Educator's Manual is aimed
at young people, adults, students and teachers. The books explain
how the international community understands democracy, and explores
what democracy means to each of us. Democracy for All also explains
how government works in a democracy, how the abuse of power is
checked, how human rights support democracy, how democratic
elections take place, and how citizens can participate in
democracy. The objectives of the book are: To improve students'
understanding of the fundamental principles and values underlying
democracy in society; To promote awareness of the current issues
and controversies relating to democracy; To show students that
their participation can make a difference to how democracy
functions in their country; To foster justice, tolerance and
fairness; To develop students' willingness and ability to resolve
disputes and differences without resorting to violence; To improve
basic skills, including critical thinking and reasoning,
communication, observation and problem-solving. Democracy for All
uses a variety of student-centred activities, including case
studies, role-plays, simulations, small-group discussions, opinion
polls and debates. Democracy for All: Educator's Manual explains
how the lessons in the Learner's Manual can be conducted and
provides solutions to the problems.
Lincoln Prize Finalist It was the measure of Shakespeare's poetic
greatness, an early commentator remarked, that he thoroughly
blended the ideal with the practical or realistic. "If this be so,"
Walt Whitman wrote, "I should say that what Shakespeare did in
poetic expression, Abraham Lincoln essentially did in his personal
and official life." Whitman was only one of many to note the
affinity between these two iconic figures. Novelists, filmmakers,
and playwrights have frequently shown Lincoln quoting Shakespeare.
In Lincoln and Shakespeare, Michael Anderegg for the first time
examines in detail Lincoln's fascination with and knowledge of
Shakespeare's plays. Separated by centuries and extraordinary
circumstances, the two men clearly shared a belief in the power of
language and both at times held a fatalistic view of human nature.
While citations from Shakespeare are few in his writings and
speeches, Lincoln read deeply and quoted often from the Bard's work
in company, a habit well documented in diaries, letters, and
newspapers. Anderegg discusses Lincoln's particular interest in
Macbeth and Hamlet and in Shakespeare's historical plays, where we
see themes that resonated deeply with the president-the dangers of
inordinate ambition, the horrors of civil war, and the corruptions
of illegitimate rule. Anderegg winnows confirmed evidence from myth
to explore how Lincoln came to know Shakespeare, which editions he
read, and which plays he would have seen before he became
president. Once in the White House, Lincoln had the opportunity of
seeing the best Shakespearean actors in America. Anderegg details
Lincoln's unexpected relationship with James H. Hackett, one of the
most popular comic actors in America at the time: his letter to
Hackett reveals his considerable enthusiasm for Shakespeare.
Lincoln managed, in the midst of overwhelming matters of state, to
see the actor's Falstaff on several occasions and to engage with
him in discussions of how Shakespeare's plays should be performed,
a topic on which he had decided views. Hackett's productions were
only a few of those Lincoln enjoyed as president, and Anderegg
documents his larger theatergoing experience, recreating the
Shakespearean performances of Edwin Booth, Charlotte Cushman, Edwin
Forrest, and others, as Lincoln saw them.
On 8 January 2012 the African National Congress (ANC) of South
Africa, the oldest African nationalist organisation on the
continent, celebrated its one hundredth anniversary. This historic
event has generated significant public debate within both the ANC
and South African society at large. There is no better time to
critically reflect on the ANC's historical trajectory and struggle
against colonialism and apartheid than in its centennial year. One
Hundred Years of the ANC is a collection of new work by renowned
South African and international scholars. Covering a broad
chronological and geographical spectrum and using a diverse range
of sources, the contributors build upon but also extend the
historiography of the ANC by tapping into marginal spaces in ANC
history. By moving away from the celebratory mode that has
characterised much of the contemporary discussions on the
centenary, the contributors suggest that the relationship between
the histories of earlier struggles and the present needs to be
rethought in more complex terms. Collectively, the book chapters
challenge hegemonic narratives that have become an established part
of South Africa's national discourse since 1994. By opening up
debate around controversial or obscured aspects of the ANC's
century-long history, One hundred years of the ANC sets out an
agenda for future research. The book is directed at a wide
readership with an interest in understanding the historical roots
of South Africa's current politics will find this volume
informative. This book is based on a selection of papers presented
at the One Hundred Years of the ANC: Debating Liberation Histories
and Democracy Today Conference held at the University of
Witwatersrand, Johannesburg from 20-23 September 2011.
This textbook offers a systematic and up-to-date introduction to
politics and society in the Middle East. Taking a thematic approach
that engages with core theory as well as a wide range of research,
it examines postcolonial political, social and economic
developments in the region, while also scrutinising the domestic
and international factors that have played a central role in these
developments. Topics covered include the role of religion in
political life, gender and politics, the Israel-Palestine conflict,
civil war in Syria, the ongoing threat posed by Islamist groups
such as Islamic State as well as the effects of increasing
globalisation across the MENA. Following the ongoing legacy of the
Arab Spring, it pays particular attention to the tension between
processes of democratization and the persistence of authoritarian
rule in the region. This new edition offers: - Coverage of the
latest developments, with expanded coverage of the military and
security apparatus, regional conflict and the Arab uprisings -
Textboxes linking key themes to specific historical events, figures
and concepts - Comparative spotlight features focusing on the
politics and governance of individual countries. This is an ideal
resource for undergraduate and postgraduate students approaching
Middle Eastern politics for the first time.
In the follow-up to the #1 New York Times bestseller Trump's War,
Michael Savage makes the case for President Trump in 2020.America
rolled into 2020 like a juggernaut, with the strongest economy in
its history and a renewed leadership role on the world stage.
President Trump was cruising to reelection on the strength of
record low unemployment, phase one of a historic trade deal, and a
more stable Middle East after the defeat of ISIS.Then, catastrophe
struck. A novel coronavirus originating in Wuhan, China, swept the
world, taking hundreds of thousands of lives and wreaking economic
and social destruction. As America battled to its feet and prepared
to reopen its economy, the tragic death of George Floyd at the
hands of a police officer lit a powder keg of political tension
waiting to explode after months of lockdown. As the November
elections approach, America is at war with itself to decide if it
will remain a land of freedom and opportunity, or whether a radical
new vision will emerge.Americans are searching for answers. Was the
American lockdown necessary to defeat Covid-19 or was it a
politically motivated strategy to harm President Trump's reelection
chances? Does the death of George Floyd represent a systemic
problem with American police or is the Left exploiting the tragedy
for political purposes? Where does legitimate protest end and
insurrection begin?A trained scientist who studied epidemiology for
his PhD and one of America's most popular conservative radio hosts
for the past twenty-six years, Dr. Michael Savage is uniquely
positioned to answer these burning questions. In OUR FIGHT FOR
AMERICA: THE WAR CONTINUES, Savage cuts through the propaganda and
noise to present a clear analysis of the crises and the political
and scientific motivations behind them. Michael Savage tells the
truth even when nobody wants to hear it and presents a clear vision
of what Americans must do to survive our most turbulent period in
decades.
Legal precedents created during Prohibition have lingered, leaving
search-and-seizure law much better defined than limits on police
use of force, interrogation practices, or eyewitness identification
protocols. An unlawful trunk search is thus guarded against more
thoroughly than an unnecessary shooting or a wrongful conviction.
Intrusive searches for alcohol during Prohibition destroyed
middle-class Americans' faith in police and ushered in a new basis
for controlling police conduct. State courts in the 1920s began to
exclude perfectly reliable evidence obtained in an illegal search.
Then, as Prohibition drew to a close, a presidential commission
awakened the public to torture in interrogation rooms, prompting
courts to exclude coerced confessions irrespective of whether the
technique had produced a reliable statement. Prohibition's scheme
lingered long past the Roaring '20s. Racial tensions and police
brutality were bigger concerns in the 1960s than illegal searches,
yet when the Supreme Court imposed limits on officers' conduct in
1961, searches alone were regulated. Interrogation law during the
1960s, fundamentally reshaped by the Miranda ruling, ensured that
suspects who invoked their rights would not be subject to coercive
tactics, but did nothing to ensure reliable confessions by those
who were questioned. Explicitly recognizing that its decisions
excluding evidence had not been well-received, the Court in the
1970s refused to exclude identifications merely because they were
made in suggestive lineups. Perhaps a larger project
awaits-refocusing our rules of criminal procedure on those concerns
from which Prohibition distracted us: conviction accuracy and the
use of force by police.
For more than a year, Hillary Clinton has laid out an ambitious
agenda to improve the lives of the American people and make the
country stronger and safer. Stronger Together presents that agenda
in full, relating stories from the American people and outlining
the Clinton/Kaine campaign's plans on everything from
apprenticeships to the Zika virus, including: -Building an economy
that works for everyone. -Making investment in good-paying jobs,
including infrastructure, manufacturing, clean energy and small
business. -Making debt-free college a reality and tackling the
student debt crisis. -A course of action to defeat global terrorist
networks and support allies. -Breaking down the barriers that hold
Americans back by reforming a broken immigration system, ending
mass incarceration, protecting voting rights, and fixing the
campaign finance system. -Putting families first through universal,
affordable health care; paid family and medical leave, and
affordable child care. Stronger Together offers specific solutions
and a bold vision for building a more perfect union.
Ruth Ben-Ghiat is the expert on the "strongman" playbook employed
by authoritarian demagogues from Mussolini to Putin-enabling her to
predict with uncanny accuracy the recent experience in America and
Europe. In Strongmen, she lays bare the blueprint these leaders
have followed over the past 100 years, and empowers us to
recognize, resist, and prevent their disastrous rule in the future.
For ours is the age of authoritarian rulers: self-proclaimed
saviors of the nation who evade accountability while robbing their
people of truth, treasure, and the protections of democracy. They
promise law and order, then legitimize lawbreaking by financial,
sexual, and other predators. They use masculinity as a symbol of
strength and a political weapon. Taking what you want, and getting
away with it, becomes proof of male authority. They use propaganda,
corruption, and violence to stay in power. Vladimir Putin and
Mobutu Sese Seko's kleptocracies, Augusto Pinochet's torture sites,
Benito Mussolini and Muammar Gaddafi's systems of sexual
exploitation, and Silvio Berlusconi and Donald Trump's relentless
misinformation: all show how authoritarian rule, far from ensuring
stability, is marked by destructive chaos. No other type of leader
is so transparent about prioritizing self-interest over the public
good. As one country after another has discovered, the strongman is
at his worst when true guidance is most needed by his country.
Recounting the acts of solidarity and dignity that have undone
strongmen over the past 100 years, Ben-Ghiat makes vividly clear
that only by seeing the strongman for what he is-and by valuing one
another as he is unable to do-can we stop him, now and in the
future.
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