American Rage

by Steven W Webster

American Rage argues that anger is the central emotion governing contemporary US politics, with powerful, deleterious effects. Tracing the developments that have given rise to a culture of anger in the mass public, the book sheds new light on both public opinion and voting behavior. Steven W. Webster skillfully uses a combination of novel datasets, new measures of anger, and a series of experiments to show how anger causes citizens to lose trust in the national government and weaken in their commitment to democratic norms and values. Despite these negative consequences, political elites strategically seek to elicit anger among their supporters. Presenting compelling evidence, Webster ultimately concludes that elites engage in this behavior because voter anger leads to voter loyalty. When voters are angry, they are more likely to vote for their party's slate of candidates at multiple levels of the federal electoral system.

Genres: Politics

188 pages, Paperback

Published August 27, 2020

Reviews

[David A · Rating 5 out of 5]

American Rage
How Anger Shapes Our Politics
By: Steven W. Webster

In my 70-year lifetime, I have seen American Politics morph into the creature it is today. I often wondered “How the H... did we get here?!”

So much anger, bitterness, divisiveness and it seems to grow exponentially each day.

When I started working in the Polling Locations, in 1972; yes, we had both political party’s representation there. Yes, we held different political theologies and beliefs - but - we laughed, we talked, we spent 14 hours or more helping our fellow citizens exercise their most precious right. To vote for their personal choice of the candidates on the ballot.

That time seems so far and distant from today. I hardly recognize what is today, presented to us as “our Political Environment”.

So. What does that have to do with this book? PLENTY!

Steven W. Webster is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Indiana University. His book “American Rage” is a very detailed look at the entire current Political Landscape.

I do recognize that many people will immediately dismiss this book as “...a partisan endeavor...” either by the ‘other side’. Designed to focus the “blame” on the opposition. As for me, I choose to disagree with that thinking. I feel that Professor Webster has peeled back the bandages - and closely looked at the wounds beneath.

It turns out, according to Professor Webster’s research and other research that he readily quotes throughout the pages. This anger is sourced from a location that might surprise all of us.

No, I am not going to give anything about the book away here. For that, you will need to read a copy yourself. However, I will say this is one of the most thought provoking reads that I have completed in MANY, MANY YEARS!!

Is it an easy read? NO. It is intense and filled with studies from other Political Science authors. It has some very interesting points of focus and views; and it has many details - that admittedly - can be daunting and intimidating at the exact same moment.

Yet, in all, I can honestly say that I personally enjoyed this book. It answered questions that I had, it piqued my curiosity in other areas. Professor Webster’s “American Rage” walks you through the 2020 American Political Landscape. Along that walk, Professor Webster points out developments that have culminated into where we are today - and - where we may venture in the near future.

This is not a book for everyone - but - it is a book very well worth reading and adding to your library!!

[Phil Peters · Rating 4 out of 5]

American Rage offers clear evidence to what many of us see happening in our political discourse. The fact that voters are increasingly angry and that anger translates to specific voter behaviors and attitudes toward democratic norms is clearly articulated by Dr. Webster and supported by several research studies.
A quick read but the conclusions are nonetheless distressing for the future of American democracy.

[Isaac]

“A third differentiator between anger and other emotions is that anger typically causes individuals to ‘mentally retreat.’ In other words, anger causes people to both fall back on the information and beliefs that they already have and increase their reliance on group-based cues or heuristics.”