The Nature of Belief Systems Reconsidered

Synopsis

In the foundational document of modern public-opinion research, Philip E. Converse’s "The Nature of Belief Systems in Mass Publics" (1964) established the U.S. public’s startling political ignorance. This volume makes Converse’s long out-of-print article available again and brings together a variety of scholars, including Converse himself, to reflect on Converse’s findings after nearly half a century of further research. Some chapters update findings on public ignorance. Others outline relevant research agendas not only in public-opinion and voter-behavior studies, but in American political development, "state theory," and normative theory. Three chapters grapple with whether voter ignorance is "rational." Several chapters consider the implications of Converse’s findings for the democratic ideal of a well-informed public; others focus on the political "elite," who are better informed but quite possibly more dogmatic than members of the general public. Contributors include Scott Althaus, Stephen Earl Bennett, Philip E. Converse, Samuel DeCanio, James S. Fishkin, Jeffrey Friedman, Doris A. Graber, Russell Hardin, Donald Kinder, Arthur Lupia, Samuel L. Popkin, Ilya Somin, and Gregory W. Wawro.This book was originally published as a special issue of Critical Review: A Journal of Politics and Society.

Copyright:

2012

Book Details

Book Quality:

Publisher Quality

Book Size:

410 Pages

ISBN-13:

9781135755355

Related ISBNs:

9781135755423, 9781138118355, 9780203723302, 9780415696180, 9781135755287

Publisher:

Taylor & Francis

Date of Addition:

01/26/24

Copyrighted By:

Critical Review Foundation

Adult content:

No

Language:

English

Has Image Descriptions:

No

Categories:

Nonfiction, Politics and Government

Submitted By:

Bookshare Staff

Usage Restrictions:

This is a copyrighted book.

Edited by:

Jeffrey Friedman

Edited by:

Shterna Friedman