Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Pages: 280
•
Trim: 6⅜ x 9
978-0-7425-2692-1 • Paperback • March 2005 • $55.00 • (£42.00) - Currently out of stock. Copies will arrive soon.
Gerald Sussman is professor of politics and communication at Portland State University.
Chapter 1 Preface
Chapter 2 1 Political Communication in the Neoliberal Era
Chapter 3 2 Managing the Electorate and the Public Sphere
Chapter 4 3 Campaign Professionals and the Tools of Their Trade
Chapter 5 4 Postwar Electoral Interventions
Chapter 6 5 Globalizing the Political Standard
Chapter 7 6 Elections and the Corporate Agenda
Chapter 8 7 Professionalization, Election Financing, and Democracy
Chapter 9 References
Sussman provides us with a compelling account of the way in which money and the professionalization of political campaigning has impoverished democracy. Drawing upon a wealth of evidence, he shows us how an army of political consultants, backed by big business, is turning democracy into a branch of corporate public relations. In so doing, he takes us beyond much of the discussion of 'spin,' to firmly link the process to the global spread of neo-liberalism. Read it and weep.
— Justin Lewis, Cardiff University
Global Electioneering provides welcome and fascinating insights into the political economy of campaigning. In doing so, it seeks to broaden and deepen our understanding by challenging the influential modernization thesis and acknowledging the corrosive impact the rise of neo-liberalism has had on democratic practices around the globe.
— Dominic J. Wring, Loughborough University
Finally, a book that peels back the curtain to show the corporate takeover of that public space we used to call grassroots democracy. Sussman's writing is historical, personal, and critical; [he] offers insight into the incorporation of political elections in America and how this mission creep is privatizing elections worldwide.
— Nancy Snow, author of Propaganda, Inc. and Information War and co-editor of War, Media, and Propaganda
An insightful exposé of the powerful interests that have hijacked the electoral process at home and abroad. Nicely written, richly informed, and commanding in its analysis.
— Michael Parenti, author of The Face of Imperialism and God and His Demons
We in the United States typically feel comfortable talking about our society as a democracy. Gerald Sussman's book reminds us that democracy is a remarkably elastic term. Should it be used to describe an ultra-professionalized, high-tech campaign system dominated by big money in which ordinary people are effectively sidelined? Sussman's research and clear argument remind us how much anti-democratic practice we've come to accept in our democracy. His book is an important wake-up call and a contribution to the planning for how to take back power from elites.
— Robert Jensen, Director of the Senior Fellows Honors Program of the College of Communication, University of Texas at Austin
Sussman delivers a stinging indictment of U.S.-style campaigning and electioneering and a warning on the dangers of exporting such practices to the global stage.
— Choice Reviews
Sussman's book is especially valuable because it demonstrates the global spread of the U.S. model of hyperindustrial electioneering, replacing the craft and local specificities of national election practices in Canada, UK, Europe, and Japan. Global Electioneering provides a clearly written and very well-documented analysis in the tradition of some of our best political communication research. The discussion of much-needed reforms that concludes the book will offer students if not a road map out of the abyss, at least suggestions to help them design their own map.
— Canadian Journal of Communication
Global Electioneering, a book rich in data and theoretical analysis of political communication methods, encourages us to think seriously on what a democracy worthy of its name requires and signifies, and whether these preconditions are fulfilled in today's political process.
— Anastasia Deligiaouri, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece; The Journal Of International Communication
—Examines the transformation, commodification, and export of American politics, focusing on the U.S. and overseas work of political campaign consultants in Britain, France, Israel, Canada, Russia, Serbia, Mexico, Argentina, Venezuela, thePhilippines, South Africa, and many other countries.
—Includes a detailed case study of the work of American and counterpart political consultants in Britain.
—Reveals a "revolving door" of consultants, legislators, and regulatory officials with majorcorporations and how this system is becoming the worldwide standard in electioneering.
—Provides a historical background of U.S. engagement in overseas elections since the beginning of the Cold War up to the present and links the covert activities of theCIA with the roles of more recent organizations involved in "democracy assistance."
—Profiles many top political consultants, including Philip Gould, James Carville, Mary Matalin, Karl Rove, and others.
—Looks at the modern "tools of the trade" for these professionals, from television and advertising to voting machines and electronic messaging.