The Dynamics Of American Politics: Approaches And Interpretations

by Lawrence C. Dodd, Calvin C. Jillson, Calvin Jillson

This book offers a comprehensive assessment of the major theoretical approaches to the study of American politics. Written by leading scholars in the field, the book's essays focus particularly on the contributions that competing macro- and microanalytic approaches make to our understanding of political change in America.The essays include systematic overviews of the patterns of constancy and change that characterize American political history as well as comparative discussions of theoretical traditions in the study of American political change. The volume concludes with four provocative essays proposing new and integrated interpretations of American politics.This is a path-breaking book that all scholars concerned with American politics will want to read and that all serious students of American politics will need to study. The Dynamics of American Politics is appropriate for graduate core seminars on American politics, undergraduate capstone courses on American politics, courses on political theory and approaches to political analysis, and rigorous lower-division courses on American politics.

451 pages, Hardcover

First published December 14, 1993

Reviews

[Brett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like I have written a dozen variations on a review that says something like this: "This is a collection of essays; it covers a variety of topics; some are better than others; you probably need to read it for a class, otherwise don't bother."

This is the rare exception to that pattern. Though it is true that this book is almost exclusively read for political science classes, and it is by a variety of authors on a variety of topics, and some essays are stronger than others, it is a much better book than most books of its kind. Many of the essays have some real insight into their subject area, and several of the authors seem to approach their essays with a lefty sensibility they wear on their sleeves.

The overarching theme, as you may guess from the title, is theories of change in American politics.

These books are usually a chore. This was comparatively lively and enjoyable.