New Directions in American Politics New Directions in American Politics Series

New Directions in American Politics introduces students not just to how the American political system works but also to how political science works. La Raja brings together top scholars to write original essays across the standard curriculum of American government and politics, capturing emerging research in the discipline in a way that is accessible for undergraduates. Each chapter combines substantive knowledge with the kind of skill-building and analytical inquiry that is being touted in higher education everywhere. Contributors to New Directions highlight why the questions they seek to answer are critical for understanding American politics, and situate them in the broader context of controversies in research.

The teaching of American politics follows a well-worn path. Textbooks for introductory courses hew to a traditional set of chapters that describe the Founding, American institutions, the ways citizens participate in politics, and sometimes public policy. The material rarely engages students in the kind of questions that animate scholarship on politics. One hurdle for instructors is finding material that reflects quality scholarship?and thus teaches students about why, not just what?and yet is accessible for undergraduates. Articles in scholarly journals are typically unsuited for undergraduate courses, particularly introductory courses. What is needed is a book that conveys exciting trends in scholarship across vital topics in American politics and illustrates analytical thinking. New Directions in American Politics is that book and will be an ideal companion to standard textbooks that focus mostly on nuts and bolts of politics.

The book features:

• Contributions from a top-notch cast of active scholars and a highly regarded editor
• A focus on analytical thinking that addresses questions of causality
• Full coverage of the American politics curriculum
• Short interviews with each contributor on a companion website to help the research come alive and prompt critical thinking questions for students
• Work that draws on the highest quality research in political science but is written specifically for first year undergraduate students.

There is simply no book like this available to the growing number of faculty who want their introductory American politics course to be a reflection of the political science discipline and not just the nuts and bolt facts of the American political system.

Part 1: Overview: New Directions in American Politics Introduction Raymond J. La Raja Part 2: Governing Institutions 1. American Federalism as a Political Weapon David Brian Robertson 2. Reintroducing the Policy Process into Studying Congress Sean M. Theriault and JoBeth Surface Shafran 3. Presidential Authority in a Separated System of Governance Andrew Rudalevige 4. The Supreme Court in the American Political System: The Politics of Law Cornell W. Clayton Part 3: Influencing Politics 5. The Networked Party: How Social Network Analysis is Revolutionizing the Study of Political Parties Seth Masket 6. The Influence of Interest Groups in American Politics: Myth vs. Reality Matt Grossman 7. The Reach of the Partisan Media: How Choice Affects the Political Influence of Sean Hannity and Rachel Maddow Kevin Arceneaux and Martin Johnson 8. Polarized Populism: Masses, Elites, and Ideological Conflict Paul J. Quirk 9. Why Tough Campaigns Are Good for Democracy Keena Lipsitz 10. The Motivational Underpinnings of Political Participation Joanne M. Miller Part 4: Politics and Policy 11. The Politics of Immigration in a Nation of Immigrants Jack Citrin and Matthew Wright 12. Race, Ethnicity, and Politics: Controversies and New Directions Jennifer R. Garcia and Katherine Tate 13. Parties, Leaders, and the National Debt Daniel J. Palazzolo 14. What War’s Good For: Minority Rights Expansions in American Political Development Robert P. Saldin

Raymond J. La Raja is associate professor in the department of political science at University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He is the author of Small Change: Money, Political Parties and Campaign Finance Reform, as well as numerous articles on campaign finance and political parties. La Raja is founder and co-editor of The Forum: A Journal of Applied Research in Contemporary Politics.