Elections in all the world's democracies have changed radically over the past forty years. The advent of television, opinion polls, and campaign consultants has transformed them - but what some see as the `Americanization' of electioneering has happened very differently in different countries. In this book acknowledged local experts explore how far elections have been `Americanized' in ten countries or regions, including the USA, Britain, Japan, and Latin America. Their essays shed new light on the diversity of ways in which democratic choice is made. They also discuss campaigning methods and debate whether the increasingly sophisticated techniques invoked by politicians to win votes actually make their campaigns more effective. This is a study in comparative government; it is also a pragmatic examination of the most essential element of any democracy - free elections.
Reviews
`this is a generalist's book, worth reading if you are interested in campaigns. Electioneering can be part of a foundation of literature on campaigns and election politics. Butler and Ranney have brought us a good collection and sensible introductory and concluding essays to the country chapters.' Political Science Quarterly
`they bring together a variety of insights and interpretations by recognised country experts that make them valuable reading as well. A final appendix, presenting a variety of data in tabular form about the spread of television and about campaign finance, rounds out an informative volume ... a useful volume, both in highlighting the variety of ways in which national political systems have adapted to a common set of technological innovations and possibilities, and in raising important questions for future work.' West European Politics



Book Information
ISBN 9780198273752
Author David Butler
Format Hardback
Page Count 304
Imprint Clarendon Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 521g
Dimensions(mm) 223mm * 144mm * 24mm