American Politics and Society Today [Hardcover]

From the attempt to impeach Bill Clinton to the 2000 elections and George W. Bush's presidency, American politics has been marked by controversy. American Politics and Society Today analyses these events and provides a lively and authoritative analysis of contemporary politics in the United States.

Bringing together a series of leading scholars, the volume comprises ten important, engaging and critical essays on the complex character of America's divided democracy. Challenging conventional textbook wisdoms, the collection provides new interpretations on American government institutions, public policies and popular culture from jazz and rap to The Simpsons and South Park. Consistently stimulating, readable and provocative, the book allows readers to make their own informed and dispassionate assessment of the current state of the American experiment'.

American Politics and Society Today will be of substantial interest to undergraduate and graduate students of American politics and history, comparative politics, public policy and cultural studies.

List of Tables.

List of Contributors.

Editor's Preface.

Acknowledgments.

Introduction: Dubya's Divided Democracy: Robert Singh.

1 Reaching Across the Atlantic: Ideological Aspiration and Institutional Constraints in the United States and Britain: Marc Stears.

2 A New Electoral Disorder? The American Elections of 2000: Robert Singh.

3 Race, Representation and Elections: The Politics of Parties and Courts: Paul Frymer.

4 If You're Disgusted with Us, I Don't Blame You': Television and American Politics Today: Robert Mason.