Alienation: The Divide & Conquer Election of 2012(28 Frontiers in Political Communication)

alieNATION presents research conducted by a national election team and leading scholars in political communication that explores a range of important topics and variables affecting voter attitudes and behavior in the 2012 U.S. presidential election. In exploring the messages, issues, and voters of the 2012 election, these studies employ multiple methods including experimental design, content analysis, rhetorical criticism, and survey research. Whereas other election research tends to investigate either the content or effects of campaign communication, the more comprehensive and systematic nature of this collection enables alieNATION to cohere thematically around considerations of voter alienation, political engagement, political efficacy, and ultimately, citizens' voting decisions.

About the Author :
Dianne G. Bystrom (PhD, University of Oklahoma) is Director of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics at Iowa State University. Mary C. Banwart (PhD, University of Oklahoma) is Associate Professor of Communication Studies at the University of Kansas. Mitchell S. McKinney (PhD, University of Kansas) is Professor and Chair of Communication at the University of Missouri.

Review :
«alieNATION addresses the single most important issue in American political discourse, the fracturing of the electorate into divisive sub-populations who find it increasingly difficult to communicate and understand one another. It is an essential read for scholars, practitioners, and concerned citizens alike.» (R. Lance Holbert, Professor and Chair, Department of Strategic Communication, Temple University) «This comprehensive analysis touches every part of the 2012 presidential campaign - the debates; the battle for framing news stories; sound bites; social media strategies; the issues; and the targeting of the young, the Latino, and the religious voters. While the authors of alieNATION carefully dissect the 2012 presidential election, their analysis offers much for scholars and students to ponder as the 2016 presidential contest unfolds.» (Cindy Simon Rosenthal, Director and Curator, Carl Albert Congressional Research and Studies Center, University of Oklahoma) «The United States was once considered a melting pot. As the writers in this book illustrate, it's now more of a stir fry. Presidential candidates in 2012 sliced, diced, and chopped the electorate in efforts to win the presidency. This book is a readable examination of how that was done, what may lie ahead for 2016, and what it means for the future of the country. A useful and timely work for academics, practitioners, students, and political junkies.» (David Yepsen, Director, Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, Southern Illinois University)