"Why do politicians engage in nasty politics against domestic political opponents? Why do they insult them, accuse them of crimes and conspiracies, attempt to intimidate them, encourage violence against them, and in rare cases attack them with physical violence? These are puzzling questions since there is good evidence that voters don't like it and are concerned nasty politics may trigger political violence. To answer these questions, I this book examines nasty politics in the U.S., Ukraine, and Israel and how key leaders ...
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"Why do politicians engage in nasty politics against domestic political opponents? Why do they insult them, accuse them of crimes and conspiracies, attempt to intimidate them, encourage violence against them, and in rare cases attack them with physical violence? These are puzzling questions since there is good evidence that voters don't like it and are concerned nasty politics may trigger political violence. To answer these questions, I this book examines nasty politics in the U.S., Ukraine, and Israel and how key leaders such as Trump, Zelensky, and Netanyahu use it. Using surveys, case studies, in-depth interviews, databases of nasty politics, and large social media datasets, I the book shows that across all three countries the public generally doesn't like nasty politics. But it can be a way to signal toughness to voters, which is especially important in threatening times. For politicians, going nasty can also be a way to grab attention. This is particularly helpful for outsider politicians who are looking to disrupt the status quo, opposition politicians trying to make their voice heard, or incumbents losing power. The effects of nasty politics on democracy are mixed. It can be a legitimate tool for the powerless to gain attention. Or it can be a cynical ploy for incumbents to maintain their hold on power. Nasty politics influences the kinds of politicians who run for office, and its repeated use can turn voters off from politics. The potential for actual violence from nasty rhetoric is always lurking in the background"--
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