Mark C. Westlye's Books

The Myth of the Independent Voter

By: Bruce E. Keith,David B. Magleby,Candice J. Nelson,Elizabeth A. Orr,Mark C. Westlye

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The Myth of the Independent Voter

By: Bruce E. Keith,David B. Magleby,Candice J. Nelson,Elizabeth A. Orr,Mark C. Westlye

Few events in American politics over the past two decades have generated more attention than the increasing number of voters calling themselves Independent. By the early 1970s Independents outnumbered Republicans, according to many eminent experts on voting behavior. Yet the authors of this incisive new commentary on American politics claim that most of this widespread speculation on declining party affiliation is simply wrong. They contend that most so-called Independents lean strongly toward one of the two parties and resemble—in all important respects—either Democrats or Republicans. Contrary to expert opinion, only a small segment of voters are truly "independent" of either major party. Based on the most up-to-date 1990 data, The Myth of the Independent Voter provides a roadmap of the political arena for the general reader and scholar alike. Debunking conventional wisdom about voting patterns and allaying recent concerns about electoral stability and possible third party movements, the authors uncover faulty polling practices that have resulted in a skewed sense of the American voting population. Demonstrating that most of what has been written about Independents for more than thirty years is myth, this challenging book offers a trenchant new understanding of the party system, voting behavior, and public opinion.

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Page Count

252

Publisher

Univ of California Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0520912233

ISBN 13

9780520912236

A California State of Mind

The Conflicted Voter in a Changing World

By: Mark Baldassare

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A California State of Mind

The Conflicted Voter in a Changing World

By: Mark Baldassare

Mark Baldassare, one of California's leading public opinion experts, gives an authoritative and highly informative view of the state during its recent years of prosperity and more recent economic insecurity. Based on findings of the most comprehensive public opinion survey in the state, this book examines the beliefs, concerns, and public policy preferences of Californians during the 1990s, focusing in particular on Californians' deep and ongoing distrust of government and the way this distrust has shaped the recent political climate. A California State of Mind combines an incisive analysis of long-term trends—such as population growth and changing demography—with up-to-date discussions of how the recent electricity crisis and the September 11 terrorist attacks have affected residents' distrust of government, making this book a key source for Californians as they consider the future. A joint publication with the Public Policy Institute of California

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Page Count

310

Publisher

Univ of California Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0520929543

ISBN 13

9780520929548

Battle for the Heart of Texas

Political Change in the Electorate

By: Mark Owens,Ken Wink,Kenneth Bryant

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Battle for the Heart of Texas

Political Change in the Electorate

By: Mark Owens,Ken Wink,Kenneth Bryant

Texas is a solid red state. Or trending purple. Or soon to be blue. One thing is certain: as Texas looms ever larger in national politics, the makeup of its electorate increasingly matters. At a critical moment, as migration, immigration, and a maturing populace alter the state’s political landscape, this book presents a deeply researched, data-rich look at who Texas voters are, what they want, and what it might mean for the future of the Republican and Democratic parties, the state, and the nation. Battle for the Heart of Texas goes beyond the pronouncements of leaders and pundits to reveal voters’ nuanced opinions—about the 2020 Democratic primary candidates, state and national Republicans’ responses to the Covid-19 pandemic, and issues such as immigration and gun policy. Working with an unprecedented cache of polling figures and qualitative data from surveys and focus groups—the product of a cooperative effort between the Dallas Morning News and The University of Texas at Tyler—Mark Owens, Kenneth A. Wink, and Kenneth Bryant Jr. provide an in-depth examination of what is reshaping voter preferences across Texas, including the partisan impact of the urbanization and nationalization of state politics. Their analyses pinpoint the influence of race, media exposure, ideological diversity within the parties, and geographic variation across the state, detailing how Texas politics has changed over time. Race may not have typically defined Texas politics, for instance, but the authors find that rhetoric on policies related to race are now shaping the electorate. The diversity in civic engagement among the Latino community also emerges from the data, compounded and complicated by the growth of the Latino population of voting age. The largest red state in the country, with the second-largest population, Texas is crucial to the way we think about political change in America—and this book amply and precisely equips us to understand the bellwether state’s changing politics.

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Page Count

217

Publisher

University of Oklahoma Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0806191457

ISBN 13

9780806191454

Dynamics of American Political Parties

By: Mark D. Brewer,Jeffrey M. Stonecash

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Dynamics of American Political Parties

By: Mark D. Brewer,Jeffrey M. Stonecash

In Dynamics of American Political Parties, Mark D. Brewer and Jeffrey M. Stonecash examine the process of gradual change that inexorably shapes and reshapes American politics. Parties and the politicians that comprise them seek control of government in order to implement their visions of proper public policy. To gain control parties need to win elections, and winning elections requires assembling an electoral coalition that is larger than that crafted by the opposition. Parties are always looking for opportunities to build such winning coalitions, and opportunities are always there, but they are rarely, if ever, without risk. Uncertainty rules and intra-party conflict rages as different factions and groups within the parties debate the proper course(s) of action and battle it out for control of the party. Parties can never be sure how their strategic maneuvers will play out, and, even when it appears that a certain strategy has been successful, party leaders are unclear about how long apparent success will last. Change unfolds slowly, in fits and starts.

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Page Count

257

Publisher

Cambridge University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0521882303

ISBN 13

9780521882309

Relevant No More?

The Catholic/Protestant Divide in American Electoral Politics

By: Mark D. Brewer

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Relevant No More?

The Catholic/Protestant Divide in American Electoral Politics

By: Mark D. Brewer

In Relevant No More? The Catholic/Protestant Divide in American Electoral Politics, author Mark Brewer examines the electoral behavior of Catholics and Protestants, and challenges conventional views on both the way these religious groups vote and the reasons for their voting behavior. He connects voting behavior to religious worldviews, and provides a valuable and well-grounded look at the way religious values translate into American political life.

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Page Count

194

Publisher

Lexington Books

Published Date

ISBN 10

0739105132

ISBN 13

9780739105139

California in the New Millennium

The Changing Social and Political Landscape

By: Mark Baldassare

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California in the New Millennium

The Changing Social and Political Landscape

By: Mark Baldassare

A joint publication with the Public Policy Institute of California.

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Page Count

291

Publisher

Univ of California Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0520234219

ISBN 13

9780520234215

Book's by Mark C. Westlye

The Myth of the Independent Voter

The Myth of the Independent Voter

A California State of Mind

A California State of Mind

Battle for the Heart of Texas

Battle for the Heart of Texas

Dynamics of American Political Parties

Dynamics of American Political Parties

Relevant No More?

Relevant No More?

California in the New Millennium

California in the New Millennium

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