Tyranny of the Minority

Benjamin G. Bishin is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of California, Riverside.

• Preface 1. “¡Quitemos a Castro Ahora!” 2. The Subconstituency Politics Theory of Representation 3. Overcoming Ignorance and Apathy: Testing Individual-Level Implications of Representation Theories 4. Subconstituencies in Campaigns 5. Subconstituencies in Congress 6. Heterogeneity and Representation Reconsidered 7. The Myth of Issue Visibility 8. Conclusion Notes References Index

“In Tyranny of the Minority, Bishin makes a valuable contribution to the literature by asking why minorities sometimes get their way over majority wishes. He makes a compelling case, presenting the conflicting implications of majoritarian representation models. This is a very well-written, clear and interesting book, and Bishin’s work invites vigorous future debate.  If you are interested in democratic theory, the logic of representation, and congress in general, you will want to read this book.”-Robin Kolodny, Temple University "The power of some minority groups to continually fend off majority interests through democratic representation has long been under-theorized. Bishin's fascinating and empirically sophisticated account of subconstituency politics is a welcome remedy, and it is absolutely vital for any understanding of American democracy." -Paul Frymer, Princeton University