For two decades, this is one of the most important and popular books in the field of political science. The new afterword is an invaluable addition to this classic.
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"A truly social-psychological study of politics, done in an unconventional, imaginative, and appealing style." -- Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I had to read this book to complete a long undergraduate paper, and it was one of the best books I've ever read regarding how politics works. It's amazing that the book was written in 1964, because it is so applicable to so many events. It's not the most readable book (it's rather dense), but the information provided is so poignant and accurate, that it more than makes up for this. Any time I see something ridiculous political hoopla on the news, it all makes sense after Murray Edelman.
As I saw it, the main thrust of the book is that people don't want tangible "Things" from the government. Instead they want "the feeling that they are getting things" from the government. starting with this premise, Edelman explains how this works out in electoral politics, policy actions, and civil rights debates. It's stunning how accurate his system is and how applicable his general rules of politics are to almost any situation. It's a great book, and a must for anyone getting into the Political Science field.
As I saw it, the main thrust of the book is that people don't want tangible "Things" from the government. Instead they want "the feeling that they are getting things" from the government. starting with this premise, Edelman explains how this works out in electoral politics, policy actions, and civil rights debates. It's stunning how accurate his system is and how applicable his general rules of politics are to almost any situation. It's a great book, and a must for anyone getting into the Political Science field.
0 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Chapter 1 is outstanding, but if you purchase this book, like I did, you will be disappointed with the amount of "meat" in the remaining chapters.
It is unfortunate Murray Edelman does not have economics training, or expertise in comparing the economic outcomes of different countries. It would have been very interesting to flesh out the consequences of the symbolic uses of politics with case studies of different issues, different interest groups, different affected groups, in different countries and historical periods. After the excellent "Introduction", the other chapters just yammer the same points on and on.
In this edition, the 1984 Afterword ends the book with a dull thud. It is lamely informed by Post-Modern relativism, so the symbolic truths of politics become the *only* truths of politics; Mr. Edelman doesn't even see that makes the whole book irrelevant because slight - that analysis turns his book into "All Uses of Politics" and his book is hardly that at 232 pages.
I am glad I purchased the book, because the first chapter in my copy is heavily marked up (sometimes in admiration of a well constructed phrase), and there are some excellent bibliographic references for further pursuit. So it would be impossible for me to give less than three stars.
It is unfortunate Murray Edelman does not have economics training, or expertise in comparing the economic outcomes of different countries. It would have been very interesting to flesh out the consequences of the symbolic uses of politics with case studies of different issues, different interest groups, different affected groups, in different countries and historical periods. After the excellent "Introduction", the other chapters just yammer the same points on and on.
In this edition, the 1984 Afterword ends the book with a dull thud. It is lamely informed by Post-Modern relativism, so the symbolic truths of politics become the *only* truths of politics; Mr. Edelman doesn't even see that makes the whole book irrelevant because slight - that analysis turns his book into "All Uses of Politics" and his book is hardly that at 232 pages.
I am glad I purchased the book, because the first chapter in my copy is heavily marked up (sometimes in admiration of a well constructed phrase), and there are some excellent bibliographic references for further pursuit. So it would be impossible for me to give less than three stars.
0 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Samaria
Format:Paperback
If you're looking to psycho-analyze the effectiveness of symbolism and develop your own theory of political advertising, nab this book. It's one of the classic piece of poli-sci literature.
Citations (learn more)
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books
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- Psychopathology and Politics (Midway Reprint) by Harold D. Lasswell on 4 pages
- Social Psychology by Alfred R. Lindesmith on page 35, page 103, and page 142
- Feeling and Form by Susanne K. Langer on page 11, page 97, and page 132
- Modern Organization by Victor Alexander Thompson on page 54, page 75, and page 79
- Philosophy in a New Key by Suzanne Langer on page 3, page 158, and page 179
See all 53 books this book cites
- The Moro Morality Play: Terrorism as Social Drama by Robin Wagner-Pacifici on 4 pages
- Totalitarian Democracy and After (Totalitarianism Movements and Political Religions) by Yehoshua Arieli on page 176, page 178, and page 179
- The Reagan Doctrine: Sources of American Conduct in the Cold War's Last Chapter by Mark P Lagon on page 40, page 120, and Back Matter
- America's Working Man: Work, Home, and Politics Among Blue Collar Property Owners by David Halle in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
- The Presidency and the Rhetoric of Foreign Crisis (Studies in Rhetoric/Communication) by Denise M. Bostdorff in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
See all 100 books citing this book
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