Just Published: Nonprofits and Advocacy: Engaging Communities and Government in an Era of Retrenchment

Nonprofits and Advocacy: Engaging Community and Government in an Era of Retrenchment edited by Robert J. Pekkanen, Steven Rathgeb Smith, and Yutaka Tsujinaka, defines advocacy and clarifies the differences among advocacy, lobbying, political activity, and education, as well as advocacy measurements.

Should a nonprofit advocate for its mission and its constituents with a goal of affecting public policy? What are the limits of such advocacy work? Will such efforts fundamentally jeopardize nonprofit work? What can studies of nonprofit advocacy efforts reveal? Editors Robert J. Pekkanen, Steven Rathgeb Smith, and Yutaka Tsujinaka recognize the urgent need for relevant research and insight into these issues as direct and indirect government services are squeezed by federal cutbacks.

About the Book

Providing a critical look at the multidimensional roles and advocacy efforts of nonprofits, this volume will be valued by scholars, students, leaders, and activists—many of whom advocate for the interests of their organizations while delivering services to their organizations’ constituents. The research is also relevant for policymakers involved in cross-sector public policy initiatives as they strive to provide more efficient public-private solutions to challenging governance issues.

About the Editors

Robert J. Pekkanen is an associate professor in the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies and adjunct associate professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Washington. Steven Rathgeb Smith is executive director of the American Political Science Association and affiliate professor in the Evans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington. Yutaka Tsujinaka is the president-elect of the Japanese Political Science Association and a professor of political science in the Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Tsukuba.

Learn more about the book and how to order here.