2025 – Degrees of Democracy: Politics, Public Opinion, and Policy by Stuart N. Soroka and Christopher Wlezien
The American Association for Public Opinion Research presents the 2025 Book Award to Degrees of Democracy: Politics, Public Opinion, and Policy (2010, Cambridge University Press) by Stuart N. Soroka and Christopher Wlezien. This influential work has substantially advanced our understanding of the relationship between public opinion and policymaking in representative democracies, offering significant insights into how the public communicates preferences for policy changes and how governments adjust policies to align with public preferences.
At the heart of Degrees of Democracy is the “thermostatic model,” proposed first by Wlezien in 1994, and elaborated upon in this book. This model, likened to a thermostat, posits that public opinion on policy issues behaves in a feedback loop, where citizens demand more government action when policy is perceived as insufficient and demand less when government policy is perceived as excessive. Soroka and Wlezien’s empirical analysis compares this model across three countries: the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada, demonstrating that this reciprocal relationship between public opinion and policy is a powerful and consistent feature of democratic governance.
The book stands out for its rigorous empirical foundation. By analyzing decades of survey data, Degrees of Democracy provides a detailed assessment of how citizens’ preferences for more (or less) government action influence policymaking across different political systems and policy domains. Through this comprehensive comparative approach, Soroka and Wlezien show that the responsiveness of policymakers to public opinion is not uniform but varies depending on political institutions, government types, and the issue area at hand. This nuanced understanding has been foundational in advancing the subsequent scholarly discourse on public opinion and its role in shaping democratic governance.
Degrees of Democracy has left an indelible mark on the field of public opinion research. Its central ideas have inspired a large body of subsequent research, which has extended the thermostatic model to various countries, explored its applicability across different political contexts, and examined its impact on diverse policy areas. Since its publication, the book has garnered over 1,500 citations (as shown in Google Scholar as of first quarter 2025), is available in well over 1,000 libraries worldwide (according to WorldCat), and the electronic book has been downloaded nearly 6,000 times, a testament to its continued relevance and influence. Expert reviews of the book have been featured in leading scientific journals such as Public Opinion Quarterly, Political Science Quarterly, and Perspectives on Politics.
The work is not only significant for its theoretical contributions but also for its practical implications. By making the dynamics of public opinion and policy clearer and more measurable, Degrees of Democracy offers policymakers, scholars, and practitioners a valuable framework for understanding the complex interplay between public sentiment and government actions. The book emphasizes the importance of public opinion in democratic governance, highlighting how responsive governments can strengthen the democratic process, improve policy outcomes, and ensure that citizens’ preferences are adequately represented.
Soroka and Wlezien’s work is a notable example of scholarly excellence, characterized by clear exposition, methodological and empirical rigor, and a deep commitment to understanding the intricacies of democratic systems. Degrees of Democracy has not only contributed to theoretical advancements but has also provided an accessible framework for both the academic community and policymakers. It is with great pride that AAPOR recognizes Degrees of Democracy for its lasting impact on public opinion research and its significant contributions to the field.
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