Mobilization, Participation, and Democracy in America

by Steven J. Rosenstone, John Mark Hansen

Re-issued as part of the “Longman Classics in Political Science” series, Rosenstone & Hansen's authoritative text on political participation in the U.S. features a new Foreword by Keith Reeve that explores the text's enduring contributions to the discipline. Mobilization, Participation, and Democracy in America provides a thorough analysis of the dynamics of citizen involvement in American politics over the past four decades and identifies who participates in the political process, when they participate, and why. Now in a Longman Classics Edition, it features a new Foreword by Keith Reeves of Swarthmore College.

Genres: Politics, Political Science, Academic

333 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1993

Reviews

[Steven Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why do Americans get involved in politics? What factors motivate them to participate, given that this takes time and energy? This is a fine fairly recent volume that adds a key factor into the mix of explaining people's involvement in politics: mobilization. When parties and candidiates reach out to try to mobilize voters, this can heighten the level of participation by citizens.

One of the more important books on the subject in the 1990s.

[Jeff Stearns · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic when it comes to electoral dynamics. Very data driven, the author breaks down the decline in voter turnout into two distinct categories: individual demographics/tendencies and political mobilization.

[Donnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Required reading for Seminar in American National Politics. Rosenstone basically puts forth that American citizen's participation in politics is spurred from the mobilization efforts of others (candidates, special interests, etc). There are inequalities in mobilization efforts due to factors including income, education and more.

[Jordan · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of the better written rational choice books. It includes a useful lit/theoretical review and the mobilization thesis is useful both academically and practically (ie I would make my campaign managers read it), but it ultimately suffers from the hubris of all rational choice models - they try to (and think they can) explain everything.

[Zac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Writing this down here just so I can find it later. Obviously not a page-turner, but it's the most comprehensive book on turnout I've found. Way better than Wolfinger and Rosenstone (1980) or Leighley and Nagler (2013).