Broken Contract?: Changing Relationships Between Americans And Their Government

by C Craig,Stephen

• ISBN13: 9780813322636
• ISBN10: 0813322634
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 1996-01-05
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

In 1992, it was Bill Clinton's New Covenant. In 1994, it was the Republicans' Contract with America. In 1996, it is likely to be a whole new set of circumstances. Nonetheless, one theme will prevail: Citizens and their government distrust one another, and it will take major changes on both sides to restore confidence in the relationship.Broken Contract?describes the elements of voter disaffection, party decline, mass mediation, social conflict, and government by referendum so prevalent in the politics of the 1990s. Original essays by leading scholars provide a unique perspective on what is happening today, how we arrived at this point, and what the future may hold if present trends continue. Highlights include innovative insights into the politics of disillusion along race, class, and gender lines; the "Perot people" of '92, where they went in '94 and will go in '96; and "talk-show democracy," from Larry King to Rush Limbaugh and the power of televangelism.Broken Contract?is a volume with a finger on the pulse of the temperament of the times. It demonstrates, in an engaging and accessible fashion, that the Contract with America is neither the first nor the last bargain to be struck with the American public in an effort to mend its broken trust.

Author Biography

Stephen C. Craig is director of the Florida Institute for Research on Elections and professor of political science at the University of Florida.

Table of Contents

Change and the American Electorate	p. 1
Notes	p. 18
Attitudes	p. 21
Looking at Leviathan: Dimensions of Opinion About Big Government	p. 23
Notes	p. 44
The Angry Voter: Politics and Popular Discontent in the 1990s	p. 46
Notes	p. 64
Economic Change and the Middle-Class Revolt Against the Democratic Party	p. 67
Notes	p. 82
Involvement	p. 85
The Sixth American Party System: Electoral Change, 1952-1992	p. 87
Notes	p. 107
Public Judgment and Political Engagement in the 1992 Election	p. 110
Notes	p. 125
Who's Talking? Who's Listening? the New Politics of Radio Talk Shows	p. 127
Notes	p. 145
Citizens for Perot: Assessing Patterns of Alienation and Activism	p. 147
Notes	p. 164
Groups	p. 165
The Gender Gap: a Manifestation of Women's Dissatisfaction with the American Polity?	p. 167
Notes	p. 182
The Religious Vote in American Politics: Value Conflict, Continuity, and Change	p. 183
Notes	p. 205
The Social Contract in Black and White: Racial Differences in Evaluations of Government	p. 208
Notes	p. 224
Linkage	p. 227
The Electoral Connection: Images of U.S. Senators and Representatives	p. 229
Notes	p. 249
From Ward Heelers to Public Relations Experts: the Parties' Response to Mass Politics	p. 251
Notes	p. 266
Who's the Boss? Direct Democracy and Popular Control of Government	p. 268
Notes	p. 292
Appendix Wording of Survey Questions	p. 295
References	p. 301
About the Book and Editor	p. 321
About the Contributors	p. 322
Index	p. 325
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