Inspired Citizens

"Do political role models matter in American politics, and if so, how? The author of this fine book wants to know how inspirational figures provide 'cognitive constructions based on an individual’s needs, wants, and ambitions', and is especially interested in how marginalized groups use role models as they pursue political careers.... This book adds to the democratic conversation and is a strong piece of scholarship. Summing Up: Recommended."—Choice
 

“In Inspired Citizens, Jennie Sweet-Cushman offers an original perspective on the oft-debated question of whether and how political role models matter in American politics. Those who identify political role models in their own lives, Sweet-Cushman finds, are more engaged and ambitious, but under some conditions are also more politically aggressive and even violent. Sweet-Cushman’s nuanced analysis, grounded in new data uniquely designed for these purposes, demonstrates that seeking out exemplars in politics can deepen democratic engagement but can also encourage attitudes and actions less conducive to a healthy democracy. An important, timely read.”—Christina Wolbrecht, Professor of Political Science at the University of Notre Dame, and coauthor of A Century of Votes for Women: American Elections since Suffrage

“Political science needed a good theory of role models that takes into account all of what we know from psychology and distinguishes role models from descriptive representation. Inspired Citizens provides just such a theory. Using innovative surveys and experiments from the general public and elites, Sweet-Cushman demonstrates that role models’ relevance to participation and behavior depends upon shared identity, attainability, and closeness. Her findings will undoubtedly be relevant to practitioners trying to inspire political participation through role models and to researchers who desire to understand candidate emergence.”—Monica C. Schneider, Paul Rejai Professor of Political Science at Miami University, and coeditor of The Political Psychology of Women in U.S. Politics