Research Catalog

Self-interest and public interest in western politics

Title
Self-interest and public interest in western politics / Leif Lewin ; translated from the Swedish by Donald Lavery.
Author
Lewin, Leif, 1941-
Publication
Oxford [England] ; New York : Oxford University Press, ©1991.

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TextUse in library JC330.15 .L4913 1991Off-site

Details

Description
146 pages; 23 cm.
Summary
"It is self-interest or public interest that dominates Western politics? This question has been debated in many fields, and through the 1980s a consensus developed, supported by extensive research, that in their political decisions and actions people are largely motivated by self-interest, and not by the common good." "In this book, combining in a novel way insights from different fields, including rational choice theory, political philosophy, and electoral research, Leif Lewin examines more than two hundred studies of democracy in action from seventeen countries. He looks at the behaviour and attitudes of voters, bureaucrats, and politicians in turn, and challenges the accepted wisdom. In his wide-ranging review of the literature he shows that people are in fact actuated by broader considerations than their own short-sighted interests; that they act politically 'in the shadow of the future'; that they find there are overwhelming reasons to try to contribute to the long-term common good." "Professor Lewin shows, in short, that the plausible and prevalent theory that egoism rules simply doesn't match the facts. Book jacket."--BOOK JACKET.
Series Statement
Comparative European politics
Uniform Title
  • Gemensamma bästa. English
  • Comparative European politics
Alternative Title
Gemensamma bästa.
Subject
  • Public interest
  • Common good
  • Self-interest
  • Social choice
  • Voting
  • public interest
  • voting
  • 89.50 political processes: general
  • Pays occidentaux
  • UE/CE Etats membres
  • Elaboration d'une politique
  • Analyse comparative
  • Eigenbelang
  • Algemeen belang
  • Politiek gedrag
  • Bien commun
  • Intérêt personnel
  • Choix collectif
  • Vote
  • Intérêt général
  • Individualisme
  • Sociologie électorale
Note
  • Translation of: Gemensamma bästa.
Bibliography (note)
  • Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN
  • 0198277261
  • 9780198277262
  • 0198277253
  • 9780198277255
LCCN
90021502
OCLC
  • ocm22708325
  • 22708325
  • SCSB-1918801
Owning Institutions
Princeton University Library