High-Tech Grass Roots - The Professionalization of Local Elections

Election campaigns in small and mid-sized electoral districts have been run from the grass roots from the beginning of the republic. Yard signs, door-to-door canvassing, and soap-box oratory have characterized state and local elections for years, and many predict their persistence into the 21st century. This book looks at new trends in small-town politics, tracking the infiltration of sophisticated communications technology, the use of political consultants, and the increase in fundraising and campaign expenditures. Original surveys, interviews, and in-depth case studies lead the author to conclude that the new tactics are with us to stay, but that their potentially negative effects-rising campaign budgets and diminished citizen participation-may be mitigated by creative approaches to reform.

List of contents

Chapter 1 The Latest Trends in U.S. Political Campaigns Chapter 2 How Are Local Candidates Campaigning for Office? Chapter 3 Why Are Local Candidates Adopting New Style Campaign Strategies? Chapter 4 How Will Encroaching Campaign Sophistication Affect the Health of Democracy? Chapter 5 Electoral Reform from the Grassroots Chapter 6 Appendix A: A Detailed Account of Data Collection Chapter 7 Appendix B: Summarizing Campaign Sophistication

About the author

J. Cherie Strachan is assistant professor of communication at the University of Albany.

Product details

• Authors: Cherie J. Strachan
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 24.12.2002
• EAN: 9780742517660
• ISBN: 978-0-7425-1766-0
• Dimensions: 147 mm x 228 mm x 12 mm
• Weight: 231 g
• Series: Campaigning American Style
• Subjects: Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political science and political education; USA, SCIENCE / Philosophy & Social Aspects, TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING / Social Aspects, United States of America, USA, Impact of science & technology on society, Impact of science and technology on society, Elections & referenda, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Technology Studies, Elections and referenda / suffrage