This examination of the history, development, activities, successes, and limitations of the largest membership organization in the country will be of interest to anyone who belongs to or is curious about this sometimes-controversial group.
AARP is one of Washington's most influential interest groups, but just who does it represent? To some, it represents the narrow special interests of older Americans who already consume more than their share of government benefits. To others, its advocacy encompasses everyone, including those with elderly parents and grandparents—and those who will comprise the older generations of the future.
The most comprehensive volume ever written about AARP, the book begins with a chapter on the organization's history, going back to its founding in 1958 and its roots in the National Retired Teachers Association, established in 1947. Readers will learn about AARP's membership and chapter activities, including how it grew to be the largest membership organization in the country. Perhaps even more engrossing is the book's investigation of the nature and extent of AARP's political influence and its positions and priorities as it struggles to represent a large and diverse constituency. Finally, the study discusses AARP's organizational model, which combines political advocacy, business, and charity, and probes the controversies arising from what AARP's critics charge are conflicts of interest.
By:
Christine L. Day (University of New Orleans USA)
Imprint: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions:
Height: 235mm,
Width: 156mm,
ISBN: 9798765132913
Pages: 272
Publication Date: 19 September 2024
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Primary
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Acknowledgments Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 AARP's History: Growing Up and Branching Out Chapter 3 AARP and Its Members: Maintaining America's Largest Interest Group Chapter 4 A Pragmatic Voice and a Powerful Ally Chapter 5 AARP's Influence: 38 Million Members, Washington Insider Status, and No Campaign Dollars Chapter 6 Business, Advocacy, and Service: Conflict or Convergence? Chapter 7 Conclusion Notes References Index
Christine L. Day is Professor of political science at the University of New Orleans, USA.
Reviews for AARP: America's Largest Interest Group and Its Impact
[This] examination of AARP's omnipresence during different periods of health care reform over the years is first-rate. Given AARP's influence on American politics, Day's study provides an excellent resource for anyone interested in how it came to power, how it seeks to wield power, and how it has affected multiple policies over the years. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty. * Choice *
