Consent, Dissent, and Patriotism (Political Economy of Institutions and Decisions) [Paperback]

Margaret Levi (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 052159961X | ISBN-13: 978-0521599610 | Publication Date: October 13, 1997

This book explains why citizens sometimes comply with and sometimes disobey the demands of democratic governments. It argues that citizens are more likely to comply and even give active consent when they perceive government as procedurally fair in both decisionmaking and implementation processes and when they believe other citizens are also doing their share. The author develops her argument by exploring over two hundred years of military service policies in six democratic countries.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book is an exemplary piece of political theory. The book should be mandatory reading for political theorists and philosophers who worry about consent, about democracy, about the motivating force of ethical commitments in politics, and about the logic of social explanation." James Johnson, Ethics

"...Levi's study provides substantial and valuable information on the evolution of conscription policies and reactions to these policies in a number of interesting cases. Her model also provides a thought-provoking integration of the concept of fairness with more standard rational choice theory, contributing important insights to how democracy works." Deborah L. Norden, Political Science Quarterly

"Levi astutely analyzes resistance to and compliance with calls to military service, a quintessential case in which individuals face the choice of bearing large costs on behalf of benefits they will share little difference. In the process, without ever quite saying so, she batters the postulate of universal self-interest that undergirds so much of rational choice argument in political science." Comparative Politics

Book Description

This book explains why citizens sometimes comply with and sometimes disobey the demands of democratic governments. It argues that citizens are more likely to comply and even give active consent when they perceive government as procedurally fair in both decisionmaking and implementation processes and when they believe other citizens are also doing their share. The author develops her argument by exploring over two hundred years of military service policies in six democratics countries.

Product Details

• Paperback: 276 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (October 13, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 052159961X
• ISBN-13: 978-0521599610
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,628,287 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rational choice and norms, April 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Consent, Dissent, and Patriotism (Political Economy of Institutions and Decisions) (Hardcover)

Consent, Dissent, and Patriotism attempts what many think impossible; the integration of rational choice theory (based on human beings as rational, self-interested economic actors) with the existence of social norms. Most scholars in rational choice either ignore norms or hold that they are cosmetic covering for the pursuit of personal gain. Professor Levi (U. of Wasahington) makes an important effort to attmept to integrate the notion that individuals may indeed pursue self-interest to a great extent, but are still constrained by social institutions such as the norm of "fairness." There are still may questions left in this field, and C.D.&P. is a good place to start asking. Sure, I'm a student of hers, but I really do think that this is an important book in political economy.