Citizen Lobbyists: Local Efforts to Influence Public Policy - Softcover

Adams, Brian

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1592135706 ISBN 13: 9781592135707

Publisher: Temple University Press, 2006

Synopsis

Rare book

About this title

Review

"Adams' work makes an important and accessible contribution to understanding participation by providing a comprehensive analysis of citizen involvement in local policy processes in Santa Ana, California[.]... This book helps to advance knowledge of participation. Explaining patterns of participation by examining the characteristics of the policies in which citizens become involved is extremely unique and insightful; questions concerning who participates remain common in this field. The in-depth nature of the study--especially its theoretical grounding, the provision of methodological rationales, and the successful integration of both quantitative and qualitative data is an extremely positive quality. Adams attention to common themes and their exceptions makes the complexity of participation come to life... [T]he book does make a considerable contribution to understanding participation and has the potential to enhance efforts to improve participatory policy analysis." --The Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare, Dec 2008

"This book is a valuable contribution to the literature on grassroots politics in American communities.... In his focus on the issues that prompt participation and on the nature of the citizen lobbying responses that result, Brian Adams plows new ground in the study of citizen activism. Citizen Lobbyists is a worthwhile read." --Urban Affairs Review, July 2009

Synopsis

"Citizen Lobbyists" explores how U.S. citizens participate in local government. Although many commentators have lamented the apathy of the American citizenry, Brian Adams focuses on what makes ordinary Americans become involved in and attempt to influence public policy issues that concern them. It connects theory and empirical data in a new and revealing way, providing both a thorough review of the relevant scholarly discussions and a detailed case study of citizen engagement in the politics of Santa Ana, a mid-sized Southern California city. After interviewing more than 50 residents, Adams found that they can be best described as "lobbyists" who identify issues of personal importance and then lobby their local government bodies. Through his research, he discovered that public meetings and social networks emerged as essential elements in citizens' efforts to influence local policy. By testing theory against reality, this work fills a void in our understanding of the actual participatory practices of "civically engaged" citizens.

Edition details

• Publisher: Temple University Press
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 1592135706
• ISBN 13: 9781592135707
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 248