Catastrophic Politics

'Hurricane Katrina shocked the world. Atkeson and Maestas study how Hurricane Katrina changed American politics, and develop a framework that scholars will use to understand the political consequences of future extraordinary events. This is a fantastic book!' R. Michael Alvarez, California Institute of Technology
'As politicians know, not all politics is routine, yet most studies of public opinion fail to recognize this simple fact. Atkeson and Maestas provide a compelling argument and persuasive evidence about how extraordinary events are unique in their consequences for individuals' civic and partisan attitudes. At a time when laboratory and field experiments have gained such currency in the discipline, it is refreshing to see survey data used so creatively to advance our understanding of contemporary politics and public opinion.' Jan E. Leighley, American University and editor of The Journal of Politics
'Catastrophic Politics is simply groundbreaking. Inspired by Hurricane Katrina, Maestas and Atkeson have collaborated to deliver a highly accessible, methodologically sophisticated examination of the politics of disaster, with significant implications for policy makers. They are able to effectively weave together theories of causal attribution, media effects, and the psychology of emotion to tell a compelling story of how disasters can reshape citizens' views of politics and their government.' Don Haider-Markel, University of Kansas