At Issue Series - Voting Behavior (paperback edition)

Topics of debate include the importance of citizen participation in the democratic process, the role of public opinion polls and the media, and the significance of campaign politics.

Grade 11 Up?Much more narrowly focused than Politics in America (Greenhaven, 1992), which covers many of the same topics, this book provides more dispassionate analysis from more academic sources. In the first half, the format is partly similar to that of the "Opposing Viewpoints" series: well-known experts dispute whether or not Americans are losing faith in democracy, and whether or not easier voter registration will increase participation in elections. But the rest of the essays do not really oppose each other; instead they present well-reasoned insights. Though fair-minded and evenhanded, these essays require some background in current affairs; some assume familiarity with basic concepts of political science. The readings are not easy, but for those students who want to grapple with the realities of our political system, there is no more insightful introduction to the topic.?Jonathan Betz-Zall, Sno-Isle Regional Library System, Edmonds, WA
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.