Fixing American Politics

Roderick P. Hart holds the Shivers Chair in Communication and is Professor of Government at the University of Texas at Austin, USA. He is also the founding director of the Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life based in the Moody College of Communication where he was Dean from 2004–2015.

Praise for Fixing American Politics“Fixing American Politics, writes its editor Roderick P. Hart in the opening chapter, ‘is based on two premises: (1) Politics is a terrible thing because (2) only politics can solve our most vexing problems.’ The authors of the subsequent 29 chapters take these premises and, drawing on their collective years of research and practice, run with them – in different directions, but always with insight, passion, creativity, and hope. Hart calls this book ‘distinctive.’ It is to be sure. But it is also timely, needed, and an example of what scholarship is ultimately for.”Michael X. Delli Carpini, University of Pennsylvania, USA“Hopeful. Provocative. Thoughtful. This lively and accessible collection is all that and more. It speaks to our current distressed moment but advocates, both concretely and audaciously, for ways it could be different. The essays here deserve to be widely read, taught, and debated – on college campuses, in book clubs, and among professionals in journalism and politics.”Peter Simonson, University of Colorado Boulder, USA“In this timely and important volume, Roderick P. Hart has assembled a collection of essays offering contrasting opinions, assessments, and solutions regarding the twin crises of legitimation and polarization challenging contemporary politics and elections in the United States. The essays include philosophical and historical discussions as well as practical and strategic calls for action, and they cover diverse issues such as political advertising, journalistic practices, civic engagement, and legislative and regulatory reforms. Readers are offered lively and engaging perspectives that will stimulate robust conversations that may help us improve our political deliberations and learn to listen and communicate with each other again.”Thomas A. Hollihan, University of Southern California, USA“Fixing American Politics achieves the elusive Goldilocks standard. Instead of an inflated cure-all or a shallow laundry list, Hart assembles a highly diverse and substantive set of prescriptions for healing our republic. Instead of naive fantasies or complacent Band-Aids, the proposals embody both passion and perspective. Instead of Cassandra or Dr. Pangloss, we meet sober optimists, ready to guide us through the strong, slow boring of hard boards that is political reform.”Michael A. Neblo, Ohio State University, USA

• List of TablesList of ContributorsIntroductionChapter 1: Make Politics Your PassionRoderick P. Hart Part 1: Make History FunctionalChapter 2: Let’s Find a Usable PastJill A. Edy Chapter 3: Understand Your Moment in TimeDavid A. Crockett Chapter 4: Heed the Prophetic VoiceTheon E. Hill Chapter 5: Experiment With Playful ProtestTiffany Lewis Part 2: Exploit Human CapacitiesChapter 6: Let Consensus Overcome PolarizationMarc C. Hetherington Chapter 7: Use Emotion WiselyBethany Albertson Chapter 8: Explore the Reasons for IncivilityEmily Sydnor Chapter 9: Tell the Story of PovertyEunji Kim Chapter 10: Imagine New Political CoalitionsVincent N. Pham Part 3: Open Your MindChapter 11: Listen to the First Amendment Lisbeth A. Lipari Chapter 12: Hear the Presidency DifferentlyVanessa Beasley Chapter 13: Fix the "Cancel Culture" MentalityShawn J. Parry-Giles Chapter 14: Cultivate Empathy for OutgroupsNicholas A. Valentino Part 4: Confront the EstablishmentChapter 15: Counter a Reactive Media SystemDhavan Shah, Yini Zhang, Jon Pevehouse, and Sebastián ValenzuelaChapter 16: Create a Watchdog Branch of GovernmentJ. H. Snider Chapter 17: Modernize Health-Care Decision-MakingAmy Bunger Chapter 18: Give Election Apps More IntegrityJessica Baldwin-Philippi Chapter 19: Shake Up the FCCBartholomew H. Sparrow Part 5: Upgrade Political CampaignsChapter 20: Study the Electorate ThoroughlyDaron R. Shaw Chapter 21: Talk About Voters ThoughtfullySharon E. Jarvis Chapter 22: Vote When Voting Really CountsJohn C. Tedesco Chapter 23: Make Ads Safe for DemocracyGlenn W. Richardson Jr. Chapter 24: Let’s Outperform Super PACsRobert Klotz Part 6: Reimagine Traditional JournalismChapter 25: Address Journalism’s Crisis BoldlyRegina G. Lawrence Chapter 26: Measure Newsroom Effectiveness DifferentlyNatalie (Talia) Jomini Stroud and Yujin Kim Chapter 27: Publicly Subsidize JournalismDavid M. Ryfe Chapter 28: Report on Terrorism ResponsiblyScott L. Althaus Chapter 29: Challenge Fox NewsJeffrey P. Jones ConclusionChapter 30: Enliven Your Civic CapacitiesSusan Nold