Politics: Who Gets What, When How. With Postscript (1958)

by Harold D. Lasswell

Book Overview

Politics: Who Gets What, When, How by Harold Dwight Lasswell is a classic political science book that explores the fundamental question of how power is distributed in society. The book provides an... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• ISBN: B0012NNFQK
• Release Date: January 1958
• Publisher: Meridian Books
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Lasswell Influence among the elite

With slight modification of one of the Lasswell communication paradigms, the author enters into discussion of who, among the power elite receives what benefits, at what particular time and by what means. "Skill in handling persons by means of significant symbols and their manipulation involves the use of whatever current media exists at the time." Thus Pres. Rosevelt used the "Fireside Chat" via radio, while TV was the medium used by Pres. Regan,"the great communicator." Lasswell concentrates on Methods:Symbols,Violence,Goods,Practices and Results: Skill,Class, Personality, Attitudes. Parmount among polticians are: agitators and organizers. The former are favored by crisis, and the latter during those periods between crises. Lasswell is quick to point out that the "quick fix" doesn't work because of need for "incessant reappraisal of the shifting lines of communal insecurity." I highly recommend my mentor and friend. You can't go wrong with his insights!

Politics: a practical and historical approach

The late Professor Lasswell wrote this book decades ago, but his obserations have stood strong according to the political systems of the present day. To Lasswell, politics is not an esoteric, complicated subject, but rather a study in which every citizen plays an integral role. Politics is truly as simply as Lasswell's title. Perhaps most intriguing is Lasswell's ability to incorporate the analogs of major (and minor) historical events into his political theory. He engages events ranging from the Civil War to the French Revolution. Thus, Lasswell integrates politics into history, and history into politics. In short, the book is just as effective a tool for political scientists as it is for historians.