Experiencing Politics

This is an insight into the practice of state politics. It gives an account of the interface between political science and real-life politics and integrates political stories on a broad range of issues with theoretical models to illuminate both theory and practice.

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John E. McDonough affords a rare glimpse into the practice of state politics in this insider's account of the fascinating interface between political science and real-life politics. A member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives for 13 years and a skilled storyteller, McDonough eloquently weaves together stories of politics and policy with engaging theoretical models in a way that illuminates both the theory and the practice. By providing a link between scholarship and the world of experience, he communicates much about the essence of representative democracy. In the process, he demonstrates how politics extend beyond the public sphere into many aspects of life involving diverse value and interests. He describes the nature of conflict, the role of interests, agenda setting, the nature and pace of change, the use of language, and more. His stories touch on a broad range of issues - including health care politics, campaigns, and elections; a street gang called the X-men; the death penalty; campaign finance reform, and tenants versus landlords. To the author, politics is everywhere and political dynamics are universal.
While the setting for his book is one legislature, the les