Page 15 - Information and American Democracy Technology in the Evolution of Political Power

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Acknowledgments 13:21
something akin to knowing Latin. It is hardly irrelevant to contemporary
discourse and language but is far from sufficient for getting by on the
street. I bring from that experience an abiding interest in technology as a
motorforsocialandpoliticalchangeofallkinds.Mystudyofinformation
technology in recent years has been motivated in large part by an interest
in the linkages between technological development and political change.
In academic volumes such as this one, recognition of assistance from
others typically follows a particular order, beginning with professional
colleagues, then moving on to students and assistants, and then finally
family. I depart from that tradition. My greatest debt in the prepara-
tion of this work, as in all my undertakings, is to my partner and wife,
Laura Mancuso. Her support was not simply in the manner of wifely
forbearance during my hours at the computer. It combined professional
wisdom and intellectual advice, as well as being a true life partner – that
and putting up with my writing and the trying procedures of academia,
such as pursuing tenure. My gratitude to her is deepest and comes first.
I am also indebted to my parents for launching me originally on my
career as an engineer and then showing unconditional support when
I became a social scientist in graduate school. Many friends provided
support and encouragement as I wrote and researched, especially Arnold
Schildhaus and Judith Mustard and the entire Broyles-Gonz´ alez family:
Yolanda, Esmeralda, Francisco the elder, and Francisco the younger.
Within the profession, my two greatest intellectual debts are to
W. Russell Neuman, of the University of Michigan, and Jessica Korn,
now of the Gallup Organization. Russ encouraged me in 1999 to get on
with things and begin the book that had been gestating and that others
had warned me against rushing. He then provided invaluable advice and
encouragement at many points along the way. Jessica collaborated with
me on a related writing project and helped me work through many of the
ideas that form Chapter 2, especially the material on Federalist theory.
Several people worked with me as research assistants on projects con-
nected with this book, some of whom have since moved on and are now
researchers, teachers, or other professionals. Former UC Santa Barbara
students involved in the project early on whom I thank are: Robin Datta,
KaushikGhosh,MargretheKamp,KendraPappas,RobinVolpe,andGary
Wang. Current graduate students also assisted ably at various points, in-
cluding Robert Hinckley and Lia Roberts, who did expert jobs at helping
to prepare some of the quantitative analyses. Most especially, I thank
three first-rate doctoral students who conducted the bulk of the case
study interviews reported in Chapter 4: Joe Gardner, Diane Johnson,

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