The Presidential Nominating Process: A Place for Us?

This landmark volume brings together some of the titans of social movement theory in a grand reassessment of its status. For some time, the field has been divided between a dominant structural approach and a cultural or constructivist tradition. The gaps and misunderstandings between the two sides—as well as the efforts to bridge them—closely parallel those in the discipline of sociology at large. This book aims to further the dialogue between these two distinct approaches to social movements and to show the broader implications for sociology as a whole as it struggles with issues including culture, emotion, and agency.

This landmark volume brings together some of the titans of social movement theory in a grand reassessment of its status. For some time, the field has been divided between a dominant structural approach and a cultural or constructivist tradition.. The gaps and misunderstandings between the two sides—as well as the efforts to bridge them—closely parallel those in the social sciences at large. This book aims to further the dialogue between these two distinct approaches to social movements and to show the broader implications for social science as a whole as it struggles with issues including culture, emotion, and agency.

Library Journal

A former political writer for Congressional Quarterly and author of the highly regarded The Rhodes Cook Letter, Cook is one of the true authoritative sources on the presidential nominating process. This short book is jam-packed with important information on the nominating process, placing it in both historical and comparative perspective. Cook traces the historical development of the nominating process from the early days of congressional caucus nominations to the development and proliferation of presidential primary elections. In doing so, he points out both the strengths and the many weaknesses of the process. Cook also performs a great service for readers by briefly comparing how the United States selects its leaders with the nominating methods of countries such as Great Britain, France, Germany, Canada, Mexico, and Israel (this alone makes the book a valuable contribution). This truly outstanding work draws the reader into a complex web of money, primaries, and politics, offering suggestions for reform but holding out only slim hopes that the reforms will either be enacted or effective.-Michael A. Genovese Loyola Marymount Univ., Los Angeles Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Jeff Goodwin is professor of sociology at New York University. James M. Jasper is the author of several books including Nuclear Politics, The Animal Rights Crusade (with Dorothy Nelkin), The Art of Moral Protest, and Restless Nation.