George Bush’s 1988 campaign pledge, “Read my lips: no new taxes”, has become a mantra for those who distrust politicians and bureaucrats. The gulf between what political leaders say and do seems to be widening, and in democratic societies around the world, contributing to an atmosphere of cynicism and apathy among the citizenry. Understanding the characteristics and functions of speech in policy processes is a requirement for trying to overcome this problem; indeed, politicians and bureaucrats spend a good proportion of their time and resources discoursing, i.e., writing, speaking, and publishing. However, there hasbeen scant analysis of political discourse; the aim of this book is to help fill this analytical gap, by exploring political speech from a variety of perspectives, including normative, epistemological, and empirical. Addresses the timely but much neglected issue of speech in policy processes from a political-economy perspective Integrates work by an international panel of economists andpolitical scientists Includes case studies from a variety of countries Employs a variety of quantitative and qualitative techniques of discourse analysis INDICE: From the contents Introduction.- Part I: Disciplinary perspectives. The Power of Words: A Philosophical Perspective. Information Shrouding and the Governmental Supply of Public Goods and Services: Perspectives from Economics. Party Rhetoric and Practices: Perspectives from Political Science.- Part I: Case Studies. Do (Italian) Politicians Walk Like They Talk? Speech and action in the Italian Regions. General policy discourse and public budgets in France: Empirical evidence. The Strategic Use of Budgetary Prevision: The Case of Revenue Prevision in Canadian Provincial Budgets, 1986 to 2004. Dissonance in fiscal policy: A systematic analysis of the congruence between speech and action in four Canadian provinces, 1971-2002. Measuring US Presidents Political Commitment for Fiscal Discipline between 1920 and 2006.
- ISBN: 978-0-387-89671-7
- Editorial: Springer
- Encuadernacion: Cartoné
- Páginas: 320
- Fecha Publicación: 01/08/2009
- Nº Volúmenes: 1
- Idioma: Inglés