{"product_id":"waves-of-discontent-jacob-f-h-smith-9780472077809","title":"Waves of Discontent: Electoral Volatility, Public Policymaking, and the Health of American Democracy","description":"After a period of relative calm in congressional elections prior to 2006, America has experienced a series of highly competitive, volatile national elections. Since then, at least one of the US House, US Senate, and presidency has flipped party control--often with a large House or Senate seat swing--with the exception of the 2012 election. In \u003ci\u003eWaves of Discontent\u003c\/i\u003e, Jacob F. H. Smith argues that a pervasive feeling of displeasure in the American public has caused this increase in electoral volatility. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Conducting statistical analyses of a wide array of surveys, Smith found that these feelings of displeasure translate to lower turnout among voters from the president's party and a higher percentage of independents voting for the other party. Subsequently, he conducted a content analysis of \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e articles to look at the connection between unrest in American society and seat swings in congressional elections, even before the existence of polling. Examining the consequences of volatility in congressional elections reveals that political amateurs are more likely to win in wave years than in normal years. Based on this data, Smith presents a new theory about the policy process--the policy doom loop--in which frustration among voters at both the inability of Congress to pass policy and anger at policies that actually do pass results in even more churn in congressional elections. \u003ci\u003eWaves of Discontent\u003c\/i\u003e offers some suggestions to promote constructive policymaking efforts in Washington to reduce frustration in the electorate.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Jacob F. H. Smith\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0472077805\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780472077809\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e University of Michigan Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 08\/21\/2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 194\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.00lbs","brand":"Jacob F. H. Smith","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":47473784160511,"sku":"9780472077809","price":85.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_95268519-76f3-4779-98fe-2131974dd783.jpg?v=1762312922","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/waves-of-discontent-jacob-f-h-smith-9780472077809","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}