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E. E. Schattschneider

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The Semisovereign People: A Realist's View of Democracy in America 1st Edition

by Elmer E. Schattschneider (Author), David Adamany (Introduction)

4.2 39 ratings

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Semisovereign People: A Realist's View of Democracy in America
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This book started out to be an attempt to formulate a theory of political organization. While the emphasis has shifted somewhat in the course of the writing, it is still a book about political organization, an attempt to work out a theory about the relation between organization and conflict, the relation between political organization and democracy, and the organizational alternatives open to the American people. The thesis is that we shall never understand politics unless we know what the struggle is about.

ISBN-10

0030133661
ISBN-13

978-0030133664
Edition

1st
Publisher

Cengage Learning
Publication date

March 13, 1975
Language

English
Dimensions

5.25 x 0.4 x 8.25 inches
Print length

180 pages
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Mancur Olson
112
Paperback
48 offers from $993
E.E. Schattschneider
Paperback
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Saul D. Alinsky
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in Political Advocacy Books
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Cengage Learning; 1st edition (March 13, 1975)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 180 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0030133661
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0030133664
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.1 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 0.4 x 8.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,204,235 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #420 in United States Local Government
- #1,677 in Democracy (Books)
- #6,831 in Core

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lelana

A must read and re-read especially post-election 2016

Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2016

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This is a must-read, now more than ever. It is a physics textbook of politics - explaining the forces of opinion, rhetoric, debate and political group formation. It is nearly impossible to see the world of American politics the same once you have read it. I am tempted to put together a post-election reading list - Federalist Papers, the New Jim Crow among them. This would be at the top of the list, it is that relevant almost 60 years since its writing.

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Kenn Vance

A classic and a must read. This 'Realist' view rips the 'pluralist.'

Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2008

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This a sharp and well written monograph. Schattschneider's ideas of the "mobilization of bias" and politics as conflict as well as his critique of pluralism (or "groupist" theory) are well known and easy enough to summarize. For that reason I put off reading this book for years. That was a mistake. He explains his views better and clearer than text-book summaries and his critique is nuanced and quotable. The book is cheap and tiny - spare 10 bucks (used version) and an afternoon and enrich your understanding of politics.

4 people found this helpful

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M.P. Arsenault

Traditional Theories of Democracy and Responsible Parties

Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2009

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Schattschneider takes issue with traditional theories of democracy which suggest that "the people really do decide what the government does on something like a day-to-day basis" (133). Rather, he contends that such an old conception of democracy does not capture the reality of politics and governance in the US. Rather, Schattschneider contends that "Democracy is a competitive political system in which competing leaders and organizations define the alternatives of public policy in such a way that the public can participate in the decision-making process" (141). In part, Schattschneider seems to support the "responsible parties" model, which posits that strong, centralized parties with clear and specific platforms should be in control of government, and only then can be held accountable to the masses. The argument posits that a real majority interest exists, and that the majority - organized around a strong party - has the right to control government. Weak parties, on the other hand, would have difficulty in governing effectively. Officeholders may defect, the party platform may not be binding, and subsequently accountability would be weakened.
In part, Schattschneider is arguing against conceptions of pluralist democracy, in which various groups form around similar interest in order to pressure government to adopt specific policies. Schattschneider contends that the pressure is system is biased, and particularly favors bourgeoisie interests. Because such interests are quite powerful, they are better able to pressure the system in pursuit of their particular interests. Because the pressure system is biases, we have to reject the pluralist and group theory assumptions that all people can formulate groups around their own interests and bring pressure to bear on the system.
Schattschneider contends that two large, cohesive parties help mitigate problems associated with pressure politics. He contends that the large parties are not aggregates of interest groups. First, pressure groups are too small to make an impact on the party. Second, pressure groups are not party neutral, but like the masses, must align with one party or the other. As such, the party has power over the interest groups, not the other way around. Furthermore, because the big, consolidated parties must mobilize large segments of the population in order to gain control, less supported issues or conflicts are overpowered by bigger, more popular issues with which the masses are more interested in, and have a greater stake. As such, cleavages over large issues divide the political space. The "sides" of the cleavages can be unequal; we see the formation of majorities and minorities. The goal of the parties is to control or exploit these cleavages. Schattschneider writes, "To understand the nature of the party conflict it is necessary to consider the function of the cleavages exploited by the parties in their struggle for supremacy. Since the development of cleavages is a prime instrument of power, the party which is able to make its definition of issues prevail, is likely to take over government" (73).

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Angeles Carmona

Bad

Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2020

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Book in terrible condition and it was supposed to be “good condition”

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David

The Semi-Sovereign People

Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2013

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This book may seem out of date, because it was published decades ago, but in light of the political events in the past few years in our country, Mr. Schattschneider's words wring true and are a warning to us. Semi-Sovereign People is a scholarly work and not an especially easy read, but I recommend it to anyone who is alarmed by the trends and direction of our nation.

Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2020

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no problems

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