Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of Figures
- List of Tables
- Acknowledgments
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Globalization and Austerity Politics
- 3 The Political Economy of Elections
- 4 The Electoral Boom-Bust Cycle
- 5 From Gunboat to Trading-Floor Diplomacy
- 6 When Latin American Grasshoppers Become Ants
- 7 The Political Austerity Cycle
- 8 Conclusion
- Appendix: Field Research Interviews
- Bibliography
- Index
- Other Books in the Series (continued from page iii)
4 - The Electoral Boom-Bust Cycle
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 February 2013
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of Figures
- List of Tables
- Acknowledgments
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Globalization and Austerity Politics
- 3 The Political Economy of Elections
- 4 The Electoral Boom-Bust Cycle
- 5 From Gunboat to Trading-Floor Diplomacy
- 6 When Latin American Grasshoppers Become Ants
- 7 The Political Austerity Cycle
- 8 Conclusion
- Appendix: Field Research Interviews
- Bibliography
- Index
- Other Books in the Series (continued from page iii)
Summary
Ten thousand eyes were on him as he rubbed his hands with dirt. Five thousand tongues applauded when he wiped them on his shirt. Then while the writhing pitcher ground the ball into his hip, defiance flashed in Casey's eye, a sneer curled Casey's lip. And now the leather-covered sphere came hurtling through the air. And Casey stood a-watching it in haughty grandeur there.
– Ernest Lawrence ThayerCompetitive elections share many similarities with national sports contests. When Casey is at the bat, the Mudville slugger must choose the tactic he thinks will produce the most runs: “let drive a single” like his teammate Flynn, or instead “tear the cover of the ball” like his other mate, Blake. When they advance to the bat, presidents like mighty batsmen must choose the political lumber that yield the most votes. But, how do they ensure joy in Mudville? By swinging for the political fences, or by tapping a targeted single?
Let us begin with a brief foray into U.S. politics. In the prelude to the 1960 presidential elections, Dwight D. Eisenhower expoused the virtues of a balanced federal budget and inflation protection, following a disciplined economic strategy throughout the election year. However, this “small-ball” economic strategy never took hold among the Republican establishment. For example, in his political memoirs, Vice President Richard M. Nixon blamed Eisenhower's “inside the park” thinking for his electoral loss to John F. Kennedy. He clearly believed that electorates rewarded economic booms and punished economic dips.
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- Information
- Globalization and Austerity Politics in Latin America , pp. 123 - 162Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2013