Ideology and Spatial Voting in American Elections (Paperback)

Stephen A. Jessee

ISBN 10: 1107638380 / ISBN 13: 9781107638389

Published by Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2012

Paperback. Ideology and Spatial Voting in American Elections addresses two core issues related to the foundations of democratic governance: how the political views of Americans are structured and how citizens' voting decisions relate to their ideological proximity to the candidates. Focusing on testing the assumptions and implications of spatial voting, this book connects the theory with empirical analysis of voter preferences and behavior, showing Americans cast their ballots largely in accordance with spatial voting theory. Stephen A. Jessee's research shows voters possess meaningful ideologies that structure their policy beliefs, moderated by partisanship and differing levels of political information. Jessee finds that while voters with lower levels of political information are more influenced by partisanship, independents and better informed partisans are able to form reasonably accurate perceptions of candidates' ideologies. His findings should reaffirm citizens' faith in the broad functioning of democratic elections. Ideology and Spatial Voting in American Elections addresses how the political views of Americans are structured and how citizens' voting decisions relate to their ideological proximity to the candidates. Testing the assumptions and implications of spatial voting theory, this book connects theory with empirical analysis of voter preferences and behavior. This item is printed on demand. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9781107638389

Synopsis:

Ideology and Spatial Voting in American Elections addresses two core issues related to the foundations of democratic governance: how the political views of Americans are structured and how citizens' voting decisions relate to their ideological proximity to the candidates in a given election. Focusing on testing the assumptions and implications of spatial voting, this book connects the theory with empirical analysis of voter preferences and behavior, showing that Americans cast their ballots largely in accordance with spatial voting theory. By carefully deriving the empirical implications of spatial voting theory and through the use of novel survey techniques and statistical methods, Stephen A. Jessee's research shows that voters possess meaningful ideologies that structure their policy beliefs, moderated by partisanship and differing levels of political information. Jessee finds that while voters with lower levels of political information are more influenced by partisanship, independents and better informed partisans are able to form reasonably accurate perceptions of candidates' ideologies. His findings should reaffirm citizens' faith in the broad functioning of democratic elections.

About the Author: Stephen A. Jessee is Assistant Professor of Government at the University of Texas, Austin, USA.

Bibliographic Details

Title: Ideology and Spatial Voting in American ...
Publisher: Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Publication Date: 2012
Binding: Paperback
Condition: new