American Rage - How Anger Shapes Our Politics

Anger is the central emotion governing US politics, lowering trust in government, weakening democratic values, and forging partisan loyalty.

List of contents

1. The rise of anger in the American public; 2. Political elites and the strategic use of anger; 3. Trait-based anger and governmental distrust; 4. The causal effect of anger on trust in government; 5. Anger and democratic values in the mass public; 6. Anger and voter loyalty; 7. Anger and the future of American government.

About the author

Steven W. Webster is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Indiana University. His research interests include voter behavior, public opinion, and American elections.

Summary

This book is for scholars and students of American politics, political behavior, and political psychology, especially those interested in emotions in politics, polarization, public opinion and democratic values. It shows how anger – omnipresent in contemporary US politics – affects public opinion and voting behavior.

Additional text

'American Rage is an important read for anyone interested in understanding Americans' disdain for government and political adversaries. Using a rich array of data, Webster convincingly demonstrates that the political consequences of anger are severe from decreasing people's trust in government to weakening their commitment to democratic norms.' Antoine Banks, University of Maryland

Product details

• Authors: Webster Steven W. Webster, Steven W Webster, Steven W. Webster, Steven W. (Indiana University) Webster
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 30.09.2020
• EAN: 9781108491372
• ISBN: 978-1-108-49137-2
• No. of pages: 250
• Subjects: Social sciences, law, business > Sociology > Sociological theories; Sociology, Psychology, POLITICAL SCIENCE / American Government / General, Political structures: democracy, History of the Americas, Public Opinion & Polls, Public opinion and polls, Political structures / systems: democracy