Introduction: Individual and Society -- Henry James, The Princess Casamassima (1886) -- Jack London, The Assassination Bureau, Ltd. (1910/63) -- Robert Penn Warren, All the King's Men (1946) -- Philip K. Dick, Solar Lottery (1955) -- Richard Condon, The Manchurian Candidate (1959) -- Loren Singer, The Parallax View (1970) -- Don DeLillo, Libra (1988) -- Stephen King, The Dead Zone (1979) -- Stephen King, 11/22/63 (2011) -- Mark Costello, Big If (2002) -- Nicholson Baker, Checkpoint (2004) -- Noah Hawley, The Good Father (2012) -- Conclusion.
"Given that assassination is such a widespread trope in American culture, it is surprising that there is no scholarly monograph on assassination in American fiction providing either an overview or a critical assessment of the field. Vote with a Bullet achieves both, offering not only the first systematic study of American assassination fiction but also a coherent argument about its larger cultural, aesthetic, and political significance in the present moment as well as in the respective historical contexts of the works themselves. This study argues that American assassination fiction offers a symbolic condensation of the larger conflict between individual and society that is at the heart of modern democracy, and that has been especially contested in the democratic culture of the US. Starting with Henry James's The Princess Casamassima (1886) and ending with Noah Hawley's The Good Father (2012), the study analyzes thirteen works that range from canonical classics (Penn Warren's All the King's Men) to science fiction (Philip K. Dick's Solar Lottery)to popular genre fiction (Stephen King's The Dead Zone and 11/22/63) to historiographic metafiction (Don Delillo's Libra). It finds a loose yet identifiable continuum of assassination fiction, an imaginary laboratory in which fantasies of individual empowerment and/or social unity play out in very different ways. The texts combine aesthetics and politics to negotiate the tension between individualism and mass society in a democracy that is based on the former, which it must nevertheless restrict if it is to constitute the latter. Furthermore, the study connects the imaginary of assassination with a variety of related themes such as hegemonic masculinity and whiteness, electoral and non-electoral political choice, agency panic, subjectivity, conspiracies and conspiracy theory, and the respective sociohistorical context of each publication, with a particular view to how different generic frameworks have shaped varieties of assassination fiction at certain points in American history"--
Unlock the power of voting systems with "Cardinal Voting," part of the "Political Science" series. This book delves into cardinal voting—a revolutionary method where voters rate candidates, offering a new perspective on electoral fairness and decision-making. 1-Cardinal Voting-Learn the basics of cardinal voting, where voters use a numerical scale to express preferences, providing a richer view than traditional methods. 2-Approval Voting-Understand approval voting, where voters simply approve or disapprove of candidates, and its connection to cardinal voting for better accuracy. 3-Score Voting-Explore score voting, where candidates are rated, and its impact on elections compared to other systems. 4-Condorcet Paradox-Discover the Condorcet paradox and its effects on cardinal voting by highlighting voting system complexities. 5-Arrow's Impossibility Theorem-Analyze Arrow's theorem and its implications for designing effective cardinal voting systems. 6-Independence of Irrelevant Alternatives-Examine this key criterion affecting fairness in voting systems and its relevance to cardinal voting. 7-Gibbard–Satterthwaite Theorem-Understand this theorem’s insights into strategic voting and its limitations within cardinal voting. 8-Bucklin Voting-Learn about Bucklin voting, blending ranked and cardinal voting elements, and its decision-making impact. 9-Majority Criterion-Review the majority criterion’s role in ensuring cardinal voting reflects true majority preferences. 10-Positional Voting-Compare positional and cardinal voting systems, and see how each affects electoral outcomes. 11-Strategic Voting-Investigate strategic voting and its impact on the integrity of cardinal voting systems. 12-Allan Gibbard-Explore Allan Gibbard’s contributions to voting theory and their influence on cardinal voting. 13-Social Choice and Individual Values-Examine the link between social choice theory and individual preferences in cardinal voting. 14-Later-no-harm Criterion-Understand how this criterion preserves voter preferences in cardinal voting systems. 15-Majority Judgment-Consider majority judgment as an alternative to cardinal voting and its potential benefits. 16-Ranked Voting-Compare ranked voting with cardinal voting to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each. 17-Comparison of Electoral Systems-Get a detailed comparison of electoral systems and the unique benefits of cardinal voting. 18-Gibbard's Theorem-Revisit Gibbard’s theorem and its effect on strategic behavior in cardinal voting. 19-Combined Approval Voting-Explore combined approval voting and its integration with cardinal voting principles. 20-Highest Median Voting Rules-Understand highest median voting rules and their role in cardinal voting. 21-Usual Judgment-Learn about usual judgment and its impact on electoral outcomes alongside cardinal voting. "Cardinal Voting" offers deep insights into electoral systems, bridging theory with practical application. Elevate your understanding of voting systems today.
Protest Vote from the Political Science series uncovers the complex reasons behind electoral dissent. This essential guide explores why voters use ballots to express dissatisfaction, sparking change within democratic systems. It offers valuable insights for professionals, students, and anyone curious about the deeper layers of electoral dynamics. Chapters Overviews: 1: Protest Vote – Understand the power of protest voting to push electoral reform. 2: Approval Voting – Learn how approval voting can reshape electoral outcomes. 3: Electoral Fusion – Discover how minor parties influence major elections. 4: Disapproval Voting – Explore disapproval voting and its impact on voters. 5: Third Party (U.S. Politics) – Analyze the influence of third-party candidates. 6: Write-in Candidate – Assess how write-in candidates challenge norms. 7: Vote Splitting – Investigate how vote splitting affects election results. 8: Abstention – Examine why some voters choose abstention. 9: Spoilt Vote – Study the reasons and effects of spoiled ballots. 10: Election Boycott – Explore election boycotts as a protest method. 11: Voting – Reflect on the act of voting and its significance. 12: Voter Turnout – Investigate voter turnout trends and their causes. 13: None of the Above – Evaluate the impact of "none of the above" votes. 14: Elections in Chile – Explore Chile's unique electoral landscape. 15: Uncontested Election – Assess uncontested elections and their impact. 16: Refused Ballot – Investigate the reasons behind refusing ballots. 17: Straight-Ticket Voting – Discover straight-ticket voting's partisan influence. 18: Political Apathy – Discuss causes of voter apathy in democracies. 19: Internet Party of Ukraine – Examine the digital party’s role in Ukraine. 20: Oklahoma Primary Electoral System – Analyze Oklahoma's unique primary system. 21: Combined Approval Voting – Explore combined approval voting and its effects. Unlock the transformative power of protest voting and explore how it shapes political discourse and reform. Protest Vote delivers crucial insights for understanding democratic dissent and its profound effects on modern politics.
Approval Voting-Enhancing Democratic Representation in Political Science What is Approval Voting? This book explores approval voting systems and their impact on democratic representation, voter satisfaction, and efficiency. It offers a deep dive into the benefits and challenges of using this system in elections. Chapters Overview 1-Approval Voting-Introduction to the core concepts and principles of approval voting. 2-Score Voting-Compares score voting and its outcomes with approval voting. 3-Condorcet Method-Discusses the Condorcet method and its differences from approval voting. 4-Strategic Voting-Analyzes strategic voting and how approval voting interacts with it. 5-Borda Count-Reviews the Borda count system and its comparative advantages. 6-Condorcet Winner Criterion-Evaluates approval voting against the Condorcet winner criterion. 7-Condorcet Loser Criterion-Investigates how approval voting handles the Condorcet loser criterion. 8-Participation Criterion-Examines approval voting's impact on voter participation. 9-Comparison of Electoral Systems-A detailed comparison of approval voting with other systems. 10-Multiwinner Voting-Explores approval voting’s application in multiwinner elections. 11-Two-Round System-Compares the two-round system with approval voting. 12-Bucklin Voting-Introduction to Bucklin voting and its mechanisms. 13-Majority Criterion-Evaluates approval voting against the majority criterion. 14-Nanson’s Method-Analyzes Nanson’s method and its relevance to approval voting. 15-Later-No-Harm Criterion-Discusses this criterion and its role in voter behavior. 16-Independence of Clones Criterion-Explores the criterion’s importance in approval voting. 17-Instant-Runoff Voting-Compares instant-runoff voting with approval voting. 18-Cardinal Voting-Analyzes cardinal voting systems and voter satisfaction. 19-Ranked Voting-Compares ranked voting systems with approval voting. 20-Later-No-Help Criterion-Investigates this criterion in the context of approval voting. 21-STAR Voting-Introduction to STAR voting and its comparison to approval voting. Who is this book for? This book is invaluable for students, professionals, and enthusiasts seeking a comprehensive understanding of electoral systems, providing essential insights into the nuances of approval voting.
Are you intrigued by voting systems and their impact on democracy? Wasted Vote provides an in-depth analysis of electoral strategies and their political consequences. Ideal for professionals, students, and anyone interested in political science. Explore complex electoral systems and strategic voting through this detailed guide. 1: Wasted Vote: Understand how votes can be lost and its implications for democracy. 2: Plurality Voting: Learn about the system where the candidate with the most votes wins, even without a majority. 3: Proportional Representation: Discover how this system reflects the proportion of votes each party receives. 4: Party-List Proportional Representation: Explore how seats are allocated based on party vote shares. 5: Two-Round System: See how a second voting round is used if no majority is achieved initially. 6: Single Transferable Vote: Understand this ranking system and its role in fair representation. 7: Strategic Voting: Examine how voters may cast ballots to influence outcomes beyond personal preferences. 8: Electoral Threshold: Learn about the minimum vote percentages needed for representation. 9: Single Non-Transferable Vote: Explore the system where voters choose one candidate, and the top vote-getters win. 10: First-Past-the-Post Voting: Analyze this straightforward system where the most-voted candidate wins. 11: Parallel Voting: Understand this hybrid system combining proportional and majoritarian elements. 12: Open List: Discover how voters can influence candidate selection within a party. 13: Electoral District: Learn about the role of districts in shaping representation. 14: Elections in Greece: Investigate Greece's electoral system and its political implications. 15: BC-STV: Examine the British Columbia Single Transferable Vote system and its effects on Canadian elections. 16: Edmonton (Provincial Electoral District): Explore the Edmonton district’s role in local elections. 17: Issues Affecting the Single Transferable Vote: Delve into the challenges and debates surrounding this system. 18: Semi-Proportional Representation: Understand systems balancing fairness and practicality. 19: Electoral System: Broaden your knowledge of various electoral systems and their theories. 20: Italian Electoral Law of 2017: Analyze the impact of Italy's 2017 electoral reforms. 21: Apportionment in the Hellenic Parliament: Learn about apportionment methods in Greece and their effects on representation. Wasted Vote is more than a book; it’s a gateway to understanding democratic mechanisms and their impact on political outcomes.
What happens when partisanship is pushed to its extreme? In With Ballots and Bullets, Nathan P. Kalmoe combines historical and political science approaches to provide new insight into the American Civil War and deepen contemporary understandings of mass partisanship. The book reveals the fundamental role of partisanship in shaping the dynamics and legacies of the Civil War, drawing on an original analysis of newspapers and geo-coded data on voting returns and soldier enlistments, as well as retrospective surveys. Kalmoe shows that partisan identities motivated mass violence by ordinary citizens, not extremists, when activated by leaders and legitimated by the state. Similar processes also enabled partisans to rationalize staggering war casualties into predetermined vote choices, shaping durable political habits and memory after the war's end. Findings explain much about nineteenth century American politics, but the book also yields lessons for today, revealing the latent capacity of political leaders to mobilize violence.
In August of 1920, women's suffrage in America came down to the vote in Tennessee. If the Tennessee legislature approved the 19th amendment it would be ratified, giving all American women the right to vote. The historic moment came down to a single vote and the voter who tipped the scale toward equality did so because of a powerful letter his mother, Febb Burn, had written him urging him to "Vote for suffrage and don't forget to be a good boy." The Voice That Won the Vote is the story of Febb, her son Harry, and the letter than gave all American women a voice.
Our Electoral System is Fundamentally Flawed, But There's a Simple and Fair Solution At least five U.S. presidential elections have been won by the second most popular candidate. The reason was a "spoiler"--a minor candidate who takes enough votes away from the most popular candidate to tip the election to someone else. The spoiler effect is more than a glitch. It is a consequence of one of the most surprising intellectual discoveries of the twentieth century: the "impossibility theorem" of Nobel laureate economist Kenneth Arrow. The impossibility theorem asserts that voting is fundamentally unfair--a finding that has not been lost on today's political consultants. Armed with polls, focus groups, and smear campaigns, political strategists are exploiting the mathematical faults of the simple majority vote. In recent election cycles, this has led to such unlikely tactics as Republicans funding ballot drives for Green spoilers and Democrats paying for right-wing candidates' radio ads. Gaming the Vote shows that there is a solution to the spoiler problem that will satisfy both right and left. A system called range voting, already widely used on the Internet, is the fairest voting method of all, according to computer studies. Despite these findings, range voting remains controversial, and Gaming the Vote assesses the obstacles confronting any attempt to change the American electoral system. The latest of several books by William Poundstone on the theme of how important scientific ideas have affected the real world, Gaming the Vote is a wry exposé of how the political system really works, and a call to action.
