Book Review: North America
| Published date | 01 May 2007 |
| Date | 01 May 2007 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1478-9299.2007.00132_3.x |
| Subject Matter | Book Review |
273
book, Peter Morgan argues that the EU has
North America
negatively impacted on British democracy and
that the EU needs to be reinvented for it to
The Suppression of Dissent: How the State
offer a tolerable means of cooperation among
and
Mass
Media
Squelch
USAmerican
European member states. In this sense, the book
Social Movements by Jules Boykoff. New
is somewhat different from other ‘sceptical’
York: Routledge, 2006. 288pp., $80.00, ISBN 0
studies which propose that British withdrawal
4159 7810 6 In the series ‘New Approaches to
from the EU is the only solution, albeit with
Sociology: Studies in Social Inequality, Social
Morgan noting that Britain could be consider-
Change, and Social Justice’.
ably better off by being outside of the EU. In
taking this stance, Morgan draws on his first-
A pivotal point in US history occurred from the
hand experience of eight years spent as a
1950s to 1970s when a remarkable upsurge in
member of the Economic and Social Commit-
left-of-center social movements challenged the
tee and five years as Director General of the
prevailing consensus model of ‘normal politics’. A
Institute of Directors. In setting out these views
burgeoning literature has since charted the devel-
the book is divided into two parts, of which the
opment of contemporary social movements, but
first has ten chapters focusing on the theme of
less well chronicled is their decline and fall. Jules
‘misconceived union?’ and the second has six
Boykoff’s The Suppression of Dissent: How the State
chapters focusing on the theme of ‘misconceived
and Mass Media Squelch USAmerican Social Move-
destiny?’. The book is additionally supported by
ments poses the questions: How has the US state
a number of maps and tables as well as helpful
taken action to squelch the practice of dissent;
appendices. Such a structure helps to support an
how has it interacted with the mass media to
underlying theme which is to question the value
achieve suppression; and how do these lead to the
of British membership of the EU, and as such
demobilization of left-of-center movements?
moves away from the structure and approach
The book’s theoretical approach lies in the
that dominate the textbook market. While this
middle range between description and general-
means that Morgan’s book might not find itself
ized universal laws. Boykoff constructs a typology
a mandatory purchase on reading lists, the points
of state and mass media actions that, interacting in
that he makes could greatly aid seminar teach-
various combinations and sequences, lead to
ing. He is, for instance, correct to highlight Brit-
the demobilization of dissident left movements.
ain’s broader global role in terms of foreign
Boykoff
employs
a
comparative-historical
domestic
investment
within
the
European
multiple-case approach that temporally spans the
context. The approach is therefore to provoke
twentieth century. While his data sources include
debate rather than to provide an exhaustive aca-
archival accounts, mass-media news accounts, the
demic study that is, for instance, served by an
radical press and governmental sources, it draws
extensive bibliography.
heavily from a wide range of secondary sources.
There has been an undeniable and deeply
ingrained historical bias in the US state’s suppres-
Alasdair Blair
sion of left movements, but the question arises
(Coventry University)
whether, how and why movements to the right of
center might be suppressed differently.A good test
of Boykoff’s theoretical framework would be to
We welcome short reviews of books in all
apply it to dissident movements on the ideological
areas of politics and international relations.
right. Also, political theories of the state focus
For guidelines on submitting reviews, and
nearly exclusively on the national level, and while
to see an up-to-date listing of books avail-
some of the book’s illustrative cases involve the
able for review, please visit http://www.
actions of local agencies, it deals primarily with
politicalstudiesreview.org/.
national-level state actions. The importance and
© 2007 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2007 Political Studies Association
Political Studies Review: 2007, 5(2)
274
N O R T H A M E R I C A
complexity of US local and state political systems
and have been the focus of much psychological
is profound, however, and another test of
research. The relevant psychological theories are
Boykoff’s approach would be its systematic appli-
discussed in great detail. Special attention is being
cation to a broad range of sub-national cases.
paid to the affect transfer hypothesis (the viewer
One questions the utility of the concept of
transfers the emotional affect triggered by the
‘prestige media’, in which Boykoff includes
music and images in an advert on to something/
the major national newspapers and television
someone else) and the theory of affective
networks. Undeniably, these news outlets have
intelligence. Extending the latter and applying it
loomed large in shaping, controlling and convey-
to the area of political communications Brader
ing information in the past.Their stagnating read-
develops a set of hypotheses which are tested
ership and viewership, however, suggests that they
against the insights gained from experimental
have a declining influence on US public opinion
research and content analysis.The former was run
and that there is a much more variegated situation
during a 1998 gubernatorial campaign while the
than the book admits to.
latter covers campaign adverts from 1999 and
The Suppression of Dissent will appeal to scholars
2000. The study finds support for some of the
who specialize in social movements; its complex
conventional wisdoms relating to emotions and
theoretical structure will otherwise limit its read-
political campaigning (politicians do frequently
ership to advanced undergraduate and graduate
appeal to the electorate’s emotions) yet challenges
courses on social movements.
others (strong emotional appeals do not neces-
sarily entail an absence of logical argument or
Robert C. Dash
informed policy debate; less-informed voters are
(Willamette University)
not necessarily more likely to be influenced by
emotional appeals).
Campaigning for Hearts and Minds: How
Brader’s work lives up to its promise. The
Emotional Appeals in Political Ads Work by
methodology, data and argument are presented in
Ted Brader. Chicago IL: University of...
To continue reading
Request your trial