Democracy for Hire

Democracy for Hire PDF Author: Dennis W. Johnson
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0190272694
Category : POLITICAL SCIENCE
Languages : en
Pages : 617

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Book Description
Though they work largely out of the public eye, political consultants to candidates play a crucial role in shaping campaigns. As Dennis Johnson argues in this history of political consulting in the United States, they are essential to modern campaigning, often making positive contributions to democratic discourse, and yet they have also polarized the electorate with their biting messages

Democracy for Hire

Democracy for Hire PDF Author: Dennis W. Johnson
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0190272694
Category : POLITICAL SCIENCE
Languages : en
Pages : 617

Get Book

Book Description
Though they work largely out of the public eye, political consultants to candidates play a crucial role in shaping campaigns. As Dennis Johnson argues in this history of political consulting in the United States, they are essential to modern campaigning, often making positive contributions to democratic discourse, and yet they have also polarized the electorate with their biting messages

Politics for Hire

Politics for Hire PDF Author: Stefan Svallfors
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
ISBN: 1800375190
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 160

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Book Description
This ground-breaking book investigates the work of policy professionals. They consist of political actors who, although not elected to office, are nonetheless employed to affect policy and politics on a partisan basis. Through an analysis of the influence and power they wield, this book sheds light on how the growth of this group represents a major transformation of the organization of politics and policy-making in advanced democracies.

Grassroots for Hire

Grassroots for Hire PDF Author: Edward T. Walker
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 113991619X
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 299

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Book Description
Although 'grassroots' conjures up images of independent citizen organizing, much mass participation today is sponsored by elite consultants working for corporations and powerful interest groups. This book pulls back the curtain to reveal a lucrative industry of consulting firms that incentivize public activism as a marketable service. Edward Walker illustrates how, spurred by the post-sixties advocacy explosion and rising business political engagement, elite consultants have deployed new technologies to commercialize mass participation. Using evidence from interviews, surveys and public records, Grassroots for Hire paints a detailed portrait of these consultants and their clients. Today, Fortune 500 firms hire them to counter-mobilize against regulation, protest or controversy. Ironically, some advocacy groups now outsource organizing to them. Walker also finds that consultants are reshaping both participation and policymaking, but unethical 'astroturf' strategies are often ineffective. This pathbreaking book calls for a rethinking of interactions between corporations, advocacy groups, and elites in politics.

No Place for Amateurs

No Place for Amateurs PDF Author: Dennis W. Johnson
Publisher: Psychology Press
ISBN: 9780415928366
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 340

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Book Description
Offers an insider's tour through the fast-paced, often sordid world of the professional political campaign.

Campaigns, Elections, and the Threat to Democracy

Campaigns, Elections, and the Threat to Democracy PDF Author: Dennis W. Johnson
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0197641970
Category : Campaign management
Languages : en
Pages : 273

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Book Description
"This book offers the most up-to-date examination of campaigns and elections, along with the threats to democracy coming from the 2020 presidential election, the Big Lie, and more recent attempts to stifle democratic involvement. Frequent and fair elections, open to all, are fundamental elements of a democracy. The United States, through its local, state, and national con-tests holds more elections, more often, than any other democracy in the world. But in recent years, there have been troubling signs that our system of campaigns and elections has become much more fragile than we had previously thought. Campaigns have changed profoundly: social media and viral messaging compete with traditional media, Supreme Court decisions on campaign finance law now encourage mega-donors and have given the green light to all-out partisan gerrymandering. Voters are more polarized, and thanks mostly to Donald Trump, the whole legitimacy of elections is called into question. Further, we have faced the threat of foreign influence in our national elections. This book addresses fundamental questions about who votes in American elections, how legislative districts are drawn up, the empty charges of voter fraud, the pros and cons of reforming the Electoral College, the impact of dark money on campaigns, and the role of political consultants. This is not simply a book on how campaigns are run, but why campaigns and elections are integral components of American democracy and how those fundamental elements are vulnerable to abuse"--

Campaigns and Elections

Campaigns and Elections PDF Author: Dennis W. Johnson
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN: 0190935588
Category : POLITICAL SCIENCE
Languages : en
Pages : 225

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Book Description
Frequent and fair elections, open to all, are fundamental elements of a democracy. The United States, through its local, state, and national contests, holds more elections, more often, than any other democracy in the world. But in recent years, there have been troubling signs that our system of campaigns and elections has become much more fragile than we had previously thought. More specifically, in the past twenty years, campaigns have changed profoundly: social media and viral messaging compete with traditional media, races once considered local in nature have become nationalized, Supreme Court decisions on campaign finance law now encourage mega-donors, voters are more polarized, party affiliation has waned, and the middle ideological ground has given way to extremist language and voter rage. Twice in sixteen years we have seen winning presidential candidates gaining fewer popular votes than their opponents. The fundamental right of every citizen to vote has been impeded by state legislatures demanding tighter access, more identification, and accusations of voter fraud. And we have faced the real threat of foreign influence in our national elections. This book offers the most up-to-date examination of campaigns and elections, including the challenges and opportunities they present. It addresses fundamental questions about who votes in American elections, how legislative districts are reapportioned and why it matters, the realities of voter fraud, the pros and cons of reforming the Electoral College, the impact of dark money on campaigns, and the role of political consultants and specialists, among other topics. Given the fragility of our election process, what are the threats to a healthy American democracy? Do the candidates with the most money always win? This is not simply a book on how campaigns are run, but why campaigns and elections are integral components of American democracy and how those fundamental elements may be vulnerable to misuse.

Spies for Hire

Spies for Hire PDF Author: Tim Shorrock
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 0743282248
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 451

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Book Description
Reveals the formidable organization of intelligence outsourcing that has developed between the U.S. government and private companies since 9/11, in a report that reveals how approximately seventy percent of the nation's funding for top-secret tasks is now being funneled to higher-cost third-party contractors. 35,000 first printing.

Of Labour and Liberty

Of Labour and Liberty PDF Author: Race Mathews
Publisher: University of Notre Dame Pess
ISBN: 0268103445
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 422

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Book Description
What will the future of work, social freedom, and employment look like? In an era of increased job insecurity and social dislocation, is it possible to reshape economics along democratic lines in a way that genuinely serves the interests of the community? Of Labour and Liberty arises from Race Mathews’s half-century and more of political and public policy involvement. It responds to evidence of a precipitous decline in active citizenship, resulting from a loss of confidence in politics, politicians, parties, and parliamentary democracy; the rise of "lying for hire" lobbyism; increasing concentration of capital in the hands of a wealthy few; and corporate wrongdoing and criminality. It also questions whether political democracy can survive indefinitely in the absence of economic democracy—of labor hiring capital rather than capital labor. It highlights the potential of the social teachings of the Catholic Church and the now largely forgotten Distributist political philosophy and program that originated from them as a means of bringing about a more equal, just, and genuinely democratic social order. It describes and evaluates Australian attempts to give effect to Distributism, with special reference to Victoria. And with an optimistic view to future possibilities it documents the support and advocacy of Pope Francis, and ownership by some 83,000 workers of the Mondragon cooperatives in Spain. This book will interest scholars and students of Catholic social teaching, history, economics, industrial relations, and business and management.

Building a Business of Politics

Building a Business of Politics PDF Author: Adam D. Sheingate
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0190217197
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 297

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Book Description
Today, politics is big business. Most of the 6 billion spent during the 2012 campaign went to highly paid political consultants. In Building a Business of Politics, a lively history of political consulting, Adam Sheingate examines the origins of the industry and its consequences for American democracy.

Campaigning for President 2012

Campaigning for President 2012 PDF Author: Dennis W. Johnson
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 113501650X
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 290

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Book Description
In this important and timely volume, Dennis W. Johnson has assembled an outstanding team of political scientists and political professionals to examine one of the fiercest and most closely fought presidential elections of our time. Like its predecessor, Campaigning for President 2008, Campaigning for President 2012: Strategy and Tactics focuses on political management. It is written by both elections/campaign scholars and practitioners, who highlight the role of political consultants and campaigns while also emphasizing the strategy and tactics employed by the candidates, the national political parties, and outside interests. The contributors explore the general mood of the electorate in the 2012 election, the challenges Obama faced after his first term, the primaries, money, communication, the important issues of the election, and finally the election itself.