Tyranny of the Minority

Why do politicians frequently heed the preferences of small groups of citizens over those of the general public? Breaking new theoretical ground, Benjamin Bishin explains how the desires of small groups, which he calls âsubconstituencies,â often trump the preferences of much larger groups. Tyranny of the Minority provides a âunified theory of representation,â based in social psychology and supported by extensive analyses of legislatorsâ voting behavior, that explains how citizensâ knowledge and participation affects candidatesâ behaviour in campaigns and legislatorsâ behaviour in Congress. Demonstrating the wide applicability of the theory, the book traces politiciansâ behavior on a wide range of issues, including the Cuban trade embargo, the extension of hate crimes legislation to protect gays and lesbians, the renewal of the assault weapons ban, abortion politics, and Congressâs battle to recognize the Armenian genocide. It offers a unique explanation of why and how special interests dominate American national politics.