The performance of politics [Book] : Obama's victory and the democratic struggle for power / Jeffrey C. Alexander.

By:

Alexander, Jeffrey C, 1947-

Material type: Text

TextPublication details: Oxford : Oxford : Oxford University Press, c2010.Description: xiv, 364 pages : illustrations ; 24 cmISBN:

9780199744466 (hardback)
0199744467 (hardback)

Subject(s):

DDC classification:

324.9730931 22

Other classification:

324.9730931

Summary: Observers of politics in America often reduce democracy to demography. Whatever portion of the vote not explained by the class, gender, race, and religion of voters is attributed to the candidates' positions. But are these really the only--or even the main--factors? Sociologist Jeffrey Alexander explains what happened, and why, during the 2008 presidential campaign. Drawing on examples taken from a range of media coverage, participant observation, and interviews with leading political journalists, Alexander argues that images, emotion, and performance are the central features of the battle for power. Largely overlooked by pundits, these features are, in fact, the primary foci of politicians and their staff. Obama and McCain painstakingly constructed and projected heroic self-images for their campaigns. Though an untested senator and the underdog in his own party, Obama succeeded in casting himself as the hero--and McCain the anti-hero--and the only candidate fit to lead in challenging times.--From publisher description.

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Holdings
Item type	Current library	Call number	Status	Barcode
Books	Junaid Zaidi Library, COMSATS University Islamabad 2nd Floor	324.9730931 ALE-P (Browse shelf(Opens below))	Available	59080
Books	Junaid Zaidi Library, COMSATS University Islamabad 2nd Floor	170 NEU-O (Browse shelf(Opens below))	Available	59094
Books	Junaid Zaidi Library, COMSATS University Islamabad 2nd Floor	153.32 ARP-S (Browse shelf(Opens below))	Available	59098

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Previous	170 CAN-M Moral disquiet and human life /	170 DEW-I The idea of evil /	170 JOS-P The power of character prominent Americans talk about life, family, work, values, and more /	170 NEU-O The performance of politics Obama's victory and the democratic struggle for power /	170 NEW-E Instrumentation engineering	170 TAN-U Understanding ethics an introduction to moral theory /	170 TAR-P Having it both ways hybrid theories and modern metaethics /	Next

Observers of politics in America often reduce democracy to demography. Whatever portion of the vote not explained by the class, gender, race, and religion of voters is attributed to the candidates' positions. But are these really the only--or even the main--factors? Sociologist Jeffrey Alexander explains what happened, and why, during the 2008 presidential campaign. Drawing on examples taken from a range of media coverage, participant observation, and interviews with leading political journalists, Alexander argues that images, emotion, and performance are the central features of the battle for power. Largely overlooked by pundits, these features are, in fact, the primary foci of politicians and their staff. Obama and McCain painstakingly constructed and projected heroic self-images for their campaigns. Though an untested senator and the underdog in his own party, Obama succeeded in casting himself as the hero--and McCain the anti-hero--and the only candidate fit to lead in challenging times.--From publisher description.

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