Public Opinion: Developments and Controversies in the Twentieth Century

by Slavko Splichal

Overview

This major work surveys the historical roots, theoretical foundations, and normative claims of 20th-century conceptualizations of public opinion. It reanalyzes leading traditions, such as those of Lippmann, Dewey, and Noelle-Neumann, and reinvents some unjustly ignored ones, such as Toennies, Harrisson, and Wilson. The book critically examines popular modern research strategies such as polling and the 'spiral of silence' model and looks at the role of mass media in the formation and expression of public opinion. This comprehensive and original treatment is a must for all serious students and scholars of public opinion.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780847691630
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	08/05/1999
Series:	Critical Media Studies: Institutions, Politics, and Culture
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	384
Product dimensions:	5.94(w) x 9.04(h) x 0.84(d)

About the Author

Slavko Splichal is professor of mass communications and public opinion at the University of Ljubjana and director of the European Institute for Communication and Culture.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Publicity, the Public, and Public Opinion Chapter 3 Public Opinion: The Substance or Phantom of Democracy? Chapter 4 Public Opinion as a Form of Social Will: Toennies' Critique Chapter 5 Public Opinion and Participation: The Dewey-Lippmann Controversy Chapter 6 Public Opinion as Panopticon: A Critique of the Spiral of Silence Chapter 7 Political Institutionalization of Public Opinion: Controversies on Polling Chapter 8 Public Opinion and the Mass Media: Questions of Democratization and Regulation

Editorial Reviews

The book stands alone as a comprehensive insight into theories of public opinion in the 20th century. This is a thought-provoking book that ought to find a place on all communication scholars' bookshelves.

European Journal Of Communication

A remarkably thorough and meticulous overview of twentieth-century theories of public opinion, ranging from European to North American, theoretical to empirical, humanities to social-science approaches, Public Opinion makes a key contribution. It has a rare synoptic vision and acquaintance with the diverse literatures of public opinion studies.

John D. Peters

Salvko Splichal has done a wonderful job of remapping the intellectual history of public opinion. This is a remarkable contribution that deserves the widest possible readership among those concerned with the concepts underpinning the field of opinion research.

International Journal Of Public Opinion Research

A thorough treatment of normative issues that lend themselves well to graduate seminar discussions or provide the basis of points raised in undergraduate lectures. The book's theoretical bent also makes it easy to apply the study of public opinion to a number of societies, including emerging democracies. Public Opinion promises to broaden and challenge our perspectives of the field.

Journal of Communication

A thorough treatment of normative issues that lend themselves well to graduate seminar discussions or provide the basis of points raised in undergraduate lectures. The book's theoretical bent also makes it easy to apply the study of public opinion to a number of societies, including emerging democracies. Public Opinion promises to broaden and challenge our perspectives of the field.

Journal Of Communication