The Scope of Public Opinion and Governance

  • Scott Edward Bennett
Chapter
First Online:
Part of the Palgrave Studies in Political Marketing and Management book series (Palgrave Studies in Political Marketing and Management)

Abstract

Bennett outlines the ways public opinion emerges in the public realm. He defines the components of public opinion as well as the components of governance. The emergence of new kinds of data and alternatives to conventional public opinion are outlined.

Some of the questions addressed by data in the book are previewed. For example, who will have access to public opinion results in governing? What are the incentives that governments face to conceal or distribute information? What governing functions can be served by good public opinion data, and what sorts of preferences might elites and the general public have on these matters.

The comparative nature of the work, focusing on Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, is briefly introduced.

Keywords

Public opinion Governance Emerging alternatives New comparative data Functions of public opinion 
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Copyright information

© The Author(s) 2017

Authors and Affiliations

  • Scott Edward Bennett
    • 1
  1. 1.Political ScienceCarleton UniversityOttawaCanada

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