Reference Reviews

Lawrence Looks at Books

Encyclopedia of U.S. Campaigns, Elections and Electoral Behavior, edited by Kenneth F. Warren. 2 vols. 1,014p. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2008. 978-1-4129-5489-1; 2007-50207. $250.

The American political process is unique among modern democracies. In most democratic countries political parties have developed strongly along ideological lines. A multitude of parties appear generally reflecting a spectrum from liberal to conservative with each building their base among those who share their political beliefs. Where one group is unable to win a majority in an election, multiparty coalitions are formed and compromises are negotiated in order to establish a new political administration. In contrast, the United States operates almost exclusively in the realm of centrist politics. While small, issue oriented parties exist, the political landscape is dominated by national parties that generally lack a uniform ideology but include groups of widely varying political beliefs. Candidates often emphasize their “mainstream” appeal and characterize the views of their opponents as “extremist.” The coalitions that develop are rarely across party lines but among constituents within each national party.

This new encyclopedia on American elections and political campaigns evaluates the historical factors that have contributed to the unique character of American politics. The 458 articles include examinations of the political parties, social groups and leading figures that have shaped partisan politics and campaigning in the United States. Regional distinctions are explored in surveys of the election history in each state. National trends are traced in the reviews of each presidential election. Such surveys emphasize the changing issues and dynamics of campaigning more than the statistical results. In fact the appendix of statistical tables provides comparisons of voter registration versus reported voting instead of tabulations of results. This emphasis on political behavior also iss reflected in explorations of the role of media in American politics, the management of campaigns, the effect of cultural background on voter choices and the impact of special interest groups. Articles on historic campaign issues, government corruption and reform movements also shed light on the current political environment in the United States. Finally, entries on political theory, opinion polling and campaign strategies explore how our political choices have been made. This illuminating guide will serve high school, public and academic library audiences.
—John R.M. Lawrence