pdf - Institute for Policy Research - Northwestern University

POLITICS, INSTITUTIONS, AND PUBLIC POLICY
TThis broad multidisciplinary program looks at the ways in which social, political,
and institutional dynamics shape and constrain national policymaking in the
United States and in comparison with other advanced industrial societies.
Directed by political scientist James Druckman, scholars in the program are
researching various topics such as:
• the dynamics of public opinion, political deliberation, and political
communication,
• decision making in the policy process,
• the impact of welfare-state programs on patterns of social inequality, both in
the United States and cross-nationally,
• public opinion about U.S. policies for energy and foreign policy,
• the structure, system, and ramifications of new information technologies,
• how gender affects attitudes and social policies, and
• diverse topics concerning institutions and politics such as the origins of the
U.S. tax system, the quality of democracy, and the impact of globalization on
labor politics and industrial relations.
8 Overview of Activities
Public Opinion and Policy Decision Making
Together with Lawrence Jacobs of the
University of Minnesota and Michael
Delli Carpini of the University of
Pennsylvania, IPR Director Fay Lomax
Cook is writing a book manuscript
titled “Talking Together: Discursive
Participation in America,” which
examines the extent, nature, and impact
of the ways Americans come together to
discuss policy issues.
The research is based on a national survey
conducted by the three authors—the
first ever to examine the various ways
that Americans deliberate together
about policy issues. Much contemporary
analysis of American democracy sounds
the alarm that citizens are retreating from
the tasks of electing government officials,
influencing the legislative process, and
engaging in other forms of political life.
Although civic deliberation is receiving
growing attention from scholars and other
political observers, relatively little is
known about its extent and nature. The
researchers expect their work to correct
this imbalance and to expand the notion
of public deliberation to include what
they call “discursive participation.”
Despite an abundance of rhetoric on
energy policy from both political parties,
critics maintain that the United States
lacks a national energy strategy. Part
of developing such a strategy lies in
understanding public attitudes about
different sources of energy, whether
those opinions change as the public
becomes more informed about energy
alternatives, which types of energy
policies the public is willing to support
and which lifestyle changes the public is
willing to make to meet the long-term
energy demands of our society. Along
with political scientist James Druckman
and IPR graduate research assistant Toby
Bolsen, Cook is working to forward this
understanding by examining Americans’
changing knowledge and attitudes about
traditional energy sources, alternative
sources of energy, and lifestyle choices
that affect energy production and
consumption.
James Druckman,
Chair
This broad multidisciplinary
program
looks at the
ways in which
social, political,
and institutional
dynamics shape and
constrain national
policymaking in the
United States.
J. Reblando
www.northwestern.edu/ipr 25