The Moderation Dilemma - by Anya Bernstein (Paperback)

About the Book

Anya Bernstein offers a unique perspective on one of the few major policy innovations of the 1990s, and on the contentious issue of the role of the state in legislating family and medical leaves in the United States.

Book Synopsis

The effort to legislate family and medical leave policies in the United States illustrates a dilemma at the heart of the American political process. Faced with strong opposition from business lobbies, proponents of leaves in the late 1980s and early 1990s had to balance their desire to pass the policy they wanted against the desire to pass a policy at all.

In this lucid and timely book, Anya Bernstein analyzes how this u0022moderation dilemmau0022 played out at the federal level and in four states. In so doing, she develops a new model of policy innovation based on the debate between the ideologically committed who want all or nothing (and often get nothing) and compromisers who will settle for less (and often get a lot less). Hers is a unique perspective on one of the few major policy innovations of the 1990s, and on the contentious issue of the role of the state in American family life.

Based on interviews with activists, legislators, staff members, and observers, The Moderation Dilemma uncovers the process by which advocates for family and medical leave determined what they would propose, chose their strategies, lobbied, and bargained. Bernstein found that groups were successful when they had access to

substantial resources, were willing to frame their proposals in culturally appropriate ways, and u201cfitu201d their strategies to the political context. In the case of family and medical leave, this meant co-opting the tactics of the new right and framing family leave as family values, as well as making significant compromises. But not all groups were willing to make these compromises. The fact that the laws mandating family and medical leaves cover barely half the population, and are unpaid, raises questions about the costs and benefits of moderation.

Bernstein also takes a fresh look at womenu2019s movement groups in the 1990s. She compares those who have learned to work within the political system (insiders) with those that still focus on challenging it (outsiders). The womenu2019s groups that led the fight to pass family and medical leave had to rethink their goals as supporters both of equality for women and of accommodation for womenu2019s role as mothers. The Moderation Dilemma examines that transition and its debates, as well as the implications for the womenu2019s movement as a whole.

Students and professionals in political science, sociology, and organizational theory will want to read The Moderation Dilemma, as will anyone concerned with the behavior of interest groups and social movements.

Review Quotes

Bernstein's book examines the long-standing question of whether 'insider' strategies work through careful exploration of the role of framing, resources, and political opportunities. Her insightful discussion of the historical origins of family and medical leave policy and careful contextual analysis of the battles for family and medical leave in the United States is an important addition to the empirical literature.-- "Lee Ann Banaszak, Penn State University"

Examining the history of family and medical leave legislation, Bernstein considers the tension among proponents between those reluctant to compromise and those eager to produce meaningful results. Based on the political efforts in four states and at the federal level, she proposes a model of policy innovation to adress the challenges of moderation. Chapters draw the outline of the problem, place the issue of family and medical leave in its historical context, look at the events as they unfolded in Connecticut, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Tennessee, and nationally, and discuss changes since 1993.-- "Book News"

This is an excellent work that will fill a niche in the fields of policy innovation, reproductive rights, and feminist issues. . . . Certain to be of interest to scholars of Congress, policy innovation and agenda setting, interest group dynamics, and feminist history and politics.-- "Eileen McDonagh, Northeastern University"

About the Author

Anya Bernstein is lecturer on social studies at Harvard University and has published several scholarly articles in Policy Studies and The Harvard Writing Bulletin.