民主主義の程度：政治、世論と政策 Degrees of Democracy : Politics, Public Opinion, and Policy

Soroka, Stuart N./ Wlezien, Christopher

Cambridge University Press（2009/12発売）

• 製本 Paperback:紙装版/ペーパーバック版／ページ数 254 p.
• 言語 ENG
• 商品コード 9780521687898
• DDC分類 324

基本説明

The authors examine both responsiveness and representation across a range of policy domains in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada.

Full Description

This book develops and tests a 'thermostatic' model of public opinion and policy. The representation of opinion in policy is central to democratic theory and everyday politics. So too is the extent to which public preferences are informed and responsive to changes in policy. The coexistence of both 'public responsiveness' and 'policy representation' is thus a defining characteristic of successful democratic governance, and the subject of this book. The authors examine both responsiveness and representation across a range of policy domains in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. The story that emerges is one in which representative democratic government functions surprisingly well, though there are important differences in the details. Variations in public responsiveness and policy representation responsiveness are found to reflect the 'salience' of the different domains and governing institutions - specifically, presidentialism (versus parliamentarism) and federalism (versus unitary government).

Contents

Preface; 1. Public opinion and policy in representative democracy; 2. The thermostatic model; 3. Adding issues and institutions; 4. Public preferences and spending - a preliminary analysis; 5. Parameters of public responsiveness; 6. Public responsiveness explored; 7. Policy representation; 8. Homogeneity and heterogeneity in public and policy responsiveness; 9. Responsiveness and representation.