Description

Just in time for the upcoming elections, this book shows how political parties and interest groups have become highly interdependent in the era of candidate-centered elections, issue-advocacy organizations, and media-driven campaigns. With up-to-date data through the 2006 mid-term elections, this book looks ahead to 2008, illustrating such important developments as the increasing competitiveness of party politics, the effects of campaign finance reform, the rise of 527 groups in campaigns, the "K Street Strategy" and the Abramoff lobbying scandal, and new media and movements across the political spectrum. An essential resource for political junkies, this book provides one-stop shopping for understanding the new style of American politics.

• Integrated coverage of political parties, campaigns, and interest groups in a single text—affordably priced and engagingly presented.
• Concise, clear presentation of important topics such as:
  • Campaign finance laws
  • The rise of 527 groups
  • Campaign organization and strategy
  • The presidential nomination process
  • The workings of the electoral college
  • Political participation and voting behavior
  • The role of interest groups in advocacy campaigns
  • The lobbying process
  • The “K Street Strategy”
  • The Abramoff lobbying scandal
• Up-to-date information from the 2004 presidential election and the 2006 congressional elections, looking ahead to the 2008 elections.
• A variety of boxed features, tables, figures, and photos adding visual interest.
• A glossary of key terms, highlighted throughout the text and defined in a concise compendium at the end of the text.

Author Info

Matthew Burbank, Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Utah, earned his Ph.D. from the UNC Chapel Hill. He teaches classes on American politics, elections, and research methods. His research interests focus primarily on citizen participation in politics, political parties, and urban politics.

Ronald Hrebenar, Professor of Political Science at the University of Utah, is the author, editor, or co-editor of twelve books and more than thirty articles and chapters on interest groups, lobbying, political parties, and elections in the United States and Japan. He teaches classes on American politics, Japanese politics, political parties and elections, and interest groups and lobbying.

Robert Benedict, Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Utah, regularly teaches courses on American politics, public policy, and the legislative process. His scholarly writings have focused on the American West, environmental policy, the use of the initiative and referendum, and political parties.

Reviews

“Parties, Interest Groups, and Political Campaigns emphasizes the importance of lobbyists and interest groups and their interaction with political parties in modern political campaigns and public policy making. The fundamental nature of political parties and interest group politics has transformed in the last twenty years. Burbank, Hrebenar, and Benedict capture these changes and show their importance to our electoral system, advocacy, and ultimately to our democracy. It is an important book for all classes about U.S. politics.”

—James A. Thurber, American University

“A comprehensive and up-to-date text combining solid scholarship, relevant empirical data, and insightful examples. Especially useful for courses tasked with covering the full range of topics associated with parties, interest groups, and campaigns.”

—Stephen E. Frantzich, U.S. Naval Academy

“Political parties have joined with powerful interest groups to create a new style of governing and campaigning. In this book, the authors dissect this important new trend and help us understand why this feature developed and what it means for American politics.”

—Darrell M. West, Brown University

"Matthew Burbank, Ronald Hrebenar, and Robert Benedict provide an excellent presentation of the history, structure, and contemporary techniques of American political parties and interest groups. Essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the current and future shape and direction of American politics."

—A. James Reichley, Brookings Institution