American difference : american politics from a comparative perspective /: american politics from a comparative perspective. (2015)

• Record Type: Book
• Further Information: Note: Lori M. Poloni-Staudinger, Northern Arizona University, Michael R. Wolf, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne.
• Authors: Poloni-Staudinger, Lori
• Contents: Chapter 1: Introduction; 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; Chapter 2: Similarities Between The United States And Other Democracies; Introduction; Definition of Democracy; Procedural Democracy; Public Contestation (Competition) and Inclusion (Participation); Freedoms; Socio-Economic Development; Conclusion; Chapter 3: American Exceptionalism; Introduction; Differing Views of Governing Legitimacy; Functional Explanations for American Exceptionalism; Social Democracy and Liberal Democracy; Conclusion; Chapter 4: Political Beliefs; Introduction; Political Culture; Civic Culture; Political Engagement: Political Interest; Interpersonal Trust, Reciprocity, and Social Capital; Political Efficacy: Free Choice & Control Over Life; Distinction of American Cultural Beliefs; Individualism and Economy; Ideology; Conclusion; Chapter 5: Political Institutions; Introduction; Majoritarian and Consociational Democracies; Governing Institutions; Vertical Organization of Government: Unitary, Federal & Confederal Systems; National Governing Institutions; The Executive; The Legislative Branch; Judiciary; Civil Law Legal Tradition Systems; Common Law Legal Tradition Systems; Conclusion; Chapter 6: Interest Groups; Introduction; 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 United States Historically and Today; Types of Groups; New Social Movements; How Do Groups Participate in Politics?; Conclusion; Chapter 7: Political Parties; Introduction; Party History and Formation; Party Formation as a Result of Democratization; American Party Development – Why Aren’t Parties as Strong?; 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 US?; Conclusion; Chapter 8: Elections, Electoral Institutions and Electoral Behavior; Introduction; Candidate Selection; Electoral Institutions; Plurality, Majority, and Proportional Representation Systems; Consequences of Electoral Systems; Context of Elections and Campaigns; Voting Behavior: Electoral Participation; Political Party Mobilization: Weak Party Organization in the U.S; 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; Non-voting Behavior; Consequences of Electoral Laws, Context, and Voting for Democracy; Conclusion; Chapter 9: Conclusion;
• Publisher Details: Washington DC : CQ Press
• Publication Date: 2015
• Extent: 1 online resource (248 pages)
• Subjects: 320.973; Democracy -- United States; Comparative government; United States -- Politics and government
• Languages: English
• ISBNs: 9781483344362; 1483344363
• Access Rights: Legal Deposit; Only available on premises controlled by the deposit library and to one user at any one time; The Legal Deposit Libraries (Non-Print Works) Regulations (UK).
• Access Usage: Restricted: Printing from this resource is governed by The Legal Deposit Libraries (Non-Print Works) Regulations (UK) and UK copyright law currently in force.