37: Public Opinion

Deborah Schildkraut, Tufts University, deborah.schildkraut@tufts.edu

Models of representation have long motivated research on public opinion. From Edmund Burke’s trustee/delegate juxtaposition, to the Founders’ concerns about the capacities of ordinary citizens, to Hannah Pitkin’s formulation of descriptive representation, to Robert Dahl’s studies of pluralism, concerns about the linkages between public opinion and the decisions of elected and appointed officials that derive from these models are at the heart of public opinion scholarship. The theme of this year’s conference, “Representation and Renewal,” thus presents an opportunity to highlight the central role that normative and empirical concerns about representation play in our research. I therefore encourage proposals that focus on this theme by investigating questions related to the models of representation noted above. I also welcome proposals that address related topics, such as: the causes and consequences of attitude polarization; questions of public opinion related to redistricting; how the Tea Party movement is affecting representation; the role of interest groups in shaping public opinion; and assessments of the degree and quality of representation afforded to different groups in society.

In addition to papers that explicitly address this year’s theme, I also welcome proposals that address other central and enduring questions related to public opinion: including how factors such as elites, framing, context, the media, and identities shape public opinion; the dynamics of how the public responds to particular events (ex: the killing of Osama bin Laden, the nuclear catastrophe in Japan, scandals); and the causes and consequences of political knowledge. I also welcome proposals that center on methodological concerns involving data collection and measurement.

The annual conference also provides a great opportunity to reflect on milestones in our discipline. I welcome panel proposals that center on the celebration and continuing impact of important studies in our field. Finally, I hope that both junior and senior scholars will propose to serve as panel chairs and discussants.