Why
do politicians frequently heed the preferences of small groups of
citizens over those of the majority? Breaking new theoretical ground,
Benjamin Bishin explains how the desires of small groups, which he
calls “subconstituencies,” often trump the preferences of much larger
groups.
Demonstrating the wide applicability of his “unified
theory of representation,” Bishin traces politicians' behavior in
connection with a wide range of issues, including the Cuban trade
embargo, the extension of hate-crimes legislation to protect gay men
and lesbians, the renewal of the assault-weapons ban, and abortion
politics. In the process, he offers a unique explanation of when, why,
and how special interests dominate American national politics.
