Cambridge Studies in Public Opinion and Political PsychologySeries
This series delves into the psychology and public opinion surrounding democratic politics. It investigates the mental processes citizens employ when thinking about political issues and their responses to their political environments. Emphasizing rigorous empirical analysis and diverse methodologies like surveys and experiments, the collection explores how individuals perceive and engage with politics. The studies also consider the normative implications for democratic governance.
The book explores the evolution of modern liberal and conservative ideologies, tracing their origins and influences on contemporary political parties. It delves into key philosophical underpinnings, historical events, and societal shifts that shaped these ideologies, providing insight into how they continue to impact political discourse today. Through a thorough analysis, it highlights the complexities and nuances that define the modern political landscape.
What are the root causes of intolerance? This book addresses that question by developing a universal theory of what determines intolerance of difference in general, which includes racism, political intolerance, moral intolerance and punitiveness. It demonstrates that all these seemingly disparate attitudes are principally caused by just two factors: individuals' innate psychological predispositions to intolerance ("authoritarianism") interacting with changing conditions of societal threat. The threatening conditions, particularly resonant in the present political climate, that exacerbate authoritarian attitudes include, most critically, great dissension in public opinion and general loss of confidence in political leaders. Using purpose-built experimental manipulations, cross-national survey data and in-depth personal interviews with extreme authoritarians and libertarians, the book shows that this simple model provides the most complete account of political conflict across the ostensibly distinct domains of race and immigration, civil liberties, morality, crime and punishment, and of when and why those battles will be most heated.
The book explores the impact of the evolving media landscape on political behavior in the United States. It examines how the proliferation of channels and digital platforms influences news exposure, political learning, and voter turnout. Through experiments and new survey data, it reveals the connections between media access and political engagement, highlighting the significant effects these changes have on the political system and individual voting behavior.
