The social divide : political parties and the future of activist government / Margaret Weir, editor.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. Political Parties and Social Policymaking / Margaret Weir -- 2. A Tale of Two Congresses: Social Policy in the Clinton Years / John Ferejohn -- 3. The Politicization of Public Opinion: The Fight for the Pulpit / Lawrence R. Jacobs and Robert Y. Shapiro -- 4. The Deficit and the Politics of Domestic Reform / Paul Pierson -- 5. The Politics of Health Care Policy: Overreaching in an Age of Polarization / Mark A. Peterson -- 6. Inviting Business to the Party: The Corporate Response to Social Policy / Cathie Jo Martin -- 7. Wages and Jobs: What Is the Public Role? / Margaret Weir -- 8. The Troubled Success of Crime Policy / Ann Chih Lin -- 9. Ending Welfare as We Know It / R. Kent Weaver -- 10. Race and the Politics of Social Policy / Linda Faye Williams -- 11. Urban Policy at the Crossroads / John Mollenkopf -- 12. American Politics and the Future of Social Policy / Margaret Weir.

"The book highlights three distinctive features of politics and policymaking in creating this politics: the polarization of political elites; the predominance of advertising politics and intense fragmented interest group politics as political parties have ceased to mobilize ordinary people into politics; and the unprecedented role that budgetary concerns have played in social policymaking." "The authors first analyze the institutions and tools of policymaking, including Congress, the political use of public opinion polling, and the politics of the deficit. They then consider policies designed to win over the middle class, including health care policy, employer-provided social benefits, wages and jobs, and crime policy. Last, they address policies targeted at the disadvantaged, including welfare, affirmative action, and urban policy."--BOOK JACKET.