Conflict in Congress

A Call for Moderation

Scot Schraufnagel

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Hardback

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English

Lexington Books/Fortress Academic
15 May 2024

Public administration; Central government; Government powers

The book introduces Legislative Conflict Theory. The theory suggests that conflict in legislatures in two-dimensional and that a moderate level of conflict will be most productive. The two types of conflict are policy differences and relational conflict. Using the US Congress as a testing ground, and novel indicators of both forms of conflict and legislative productivity, the book tests the theory various ways. The testing arrives at the conclusion that specific Congresses and historical eras, easily identified as more productive, experienced a median level of two-dimensional conflict. There are implications for effective legislative process in all political settings including democratically elected legislatures and ‘rubber stamp’ legislatures in authoritarian environments. In the end, the research makes the case for recruiting the right type of people to serve. However, the most effective legislators will be context dependent. In low conflict scenarios, rabble-rousers become the most effective legislators. When two-dimensional conflict is too high, the need is for disciplined-mannerly legislators committed to compromise.

By: Scot Schraufnagel
Imprint: Lexington Books/Fortress Academic
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm,
ISBN: 9781666940343
ISBN 10: 1666940348
Pages: 162
Publication Date: 15 May 2024
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Introduction Chapter 1: Legislative Conflict Theory Chapter 2: Measuring Conflict in Legislatures Chapter 3: Party Polarization and Member Incivilities: How Distinct are the Two Dimensions of Conflict Chapter 4: What Explains Uncivil Member Behavior? Chapter 5: Measuring Legislative Productivity Chapter 6: Moderate Conflict and Legislative Productivity Chapter 7: Managing Conflict in Legislatures Appendix A Appendix B Bibliography About the Author

Scot Schraufnagel is former department chair and associate dean.

Reviews for Conflict in Congress: A Call for Moderation

Dr. Schraufnagel introduces an important approach to understanding how conflict in Congress is both troubling and essential. That the conflict is inevitable prompts questions about how to overcome conflict so that Congress can do what it was established to do. Dr. Schraufnagel combines a strong theoretical foundation, bringing in a wide range of social and political philosophers, to help us better understand the statistical analyses that he uses to support the cogent arguments he makes. -- Terri Susan Fine, University of Central Florida In the contemporary, highly polarized Congress, any call for moderation is a hostage to fortune. Scot Schraufnagel tackles the question of congressional conflict bravely and with erudition. Rightly, he distinguishes between legislative conflict founded on sharp partisan policy differences from that based on relational conflict involving incivility, mean-spiritedness and spite, and often observed within the same party. It’s the difference between tribal support for one’s football team and wrecking the stadium when they lose. His call in today’s world for legislative moderation, a new humbler breed of legislator and a renewed commitment to the norms of tolerance, courtesy and reciprocity are commendable and bold. -- John Owens, University of Westminster