Synopses & Reviews
Uncivil Wars: Political Campaigns in a Media Age engages and motivates students by showing how modern political campaigns work and discussing the complex issues surrounding them. Hollihan walks students through the development of campaign strategy, the creation of candidate images, how media cover and shape campaigns, the role of political advertising, and the use of strategic polling. After showing students the structure of campaigns, Uncivil Wars then encourages them to have meaningful participation in todays political process.
Synopsis
With a focus on both national and local levels, Uncivil Wars takes an energetic and critical look at the mechanics of political campaigning through the lens of communication theory.
About the Author
Thomas Hollihan is a professor of communication at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern California. He is the author of
Arguments and Arguing: The Products and Process of Human Decision Making (with Kevin Baaske) and
Argument at Century's End: Reflecting on the Past and Envisioning the Future and has been published in the
Quarterly Journal of Speech, Argumentation and Advocacy, Communication Quarterly, Western Journal of Communication, Southern Speech Communication Journal, Speaker and Gavel, and
Debate Issues. In addition, Hollihan has served as a consultant to political candidates and elected officials and makes frequent media appearances to discuss politics and campaigns.
Table of Contents
Preface Chapter 1 Politics Is Communication
Campaigning During the Iraq War
Politics and Political Power
The Role of Communication
The U.S. Presidency
The Outline for This Book
My Goals for This Book
Chapter 2 The Long Campaign
The Role of Political Parties
The Role of Special Interest and Lobbying Groups
Gender Politics
An Expanded Role for Political Consultants
Mass-Mediated Politics
Chapter 3 Political Socialization
The Role of the Family
Schools and Civic Education
The Relationship of Church and State
The Mass Media
The Agenda-Setting Function of the Press
The Formation of Ideology
Chapter 4 Crafting Political Images
Creating an Image
Dimensions of Image
The Power of Public Discourse
Chapter 5 How the News Media Shape Political Campaigns
The Primary Sources of Political News
The Agenda-Setting Function of the News Media
The Campaign News Environment
The Content of Campaign News
Planting Seeds of Cynicism and Doubt
Chapter 6 Political Advertising
Parades, Banners, and Buttons
Newspaper Display Advertisements
The Advent of Radio
The Television Campaign
Direct Mail Advertising
Telephone Advertising
Advertising Strategies
What Political Advertising Can Achieve
Negative Attack-Style Advertisements
The Consequences of Negative Advertising
Chapter 7 Telling the People What They Want to Hear: The Importance of Public Opinion Polls
The History of Political Polling
The Polls and Campaign Strategy
Let the Consumer Beware
Conducting the Polls
Interpreting and Reporting the Results
The Costs of Anonymity
The Mandate of Public Opinion
Chapter 8 The Impact of New Communications Technologies on Political Campaigns
The Internet
The Internet and Political Campaigns
Accessing News Online
Cyberspace and the Public Sphere
Chapter 9 Televised Campaign Debates
Are Televised Debates "Real" Debates?
The Effects of Debates on Voter Knowledge and Voting Behavior
The "Spin"
The "Appearance of Rationality"
Chapter 10 Financing Campaigns: The Relationship Between Money and Politics
Campaign Contribution Controversies in Recent Campaigns
The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002
Politics As Usual
Only the Wealthy Need Apply
Campaign Finance Reform
Chapter 11 Campaigning and Governing
Campaigns Breed Cynicism
Contemporary Political Practices May Result in Flawed Policy Making
Divisive Political Discourse Undermines Attempts to Achieve National Unity
Lobbyists and Special Interest Governance
The Politics of Character and the Search for Scandal
The Legacy of the Politics of Scandal
Conclusion
Chapter 12 The Crisis in American Democracy
Political Cynicism Is Common
The Causes of Political Cynicism
Liberty, Civility, and Trust
Reinventing Politics in America
Finding Your Voice
Suggested Political Reforms
Conclusion
Works Cited
Index