Books by William H. Riker

The focus of this study is the 1787-88 campaign to ratify the United States Constitution. The work uses both historical and rational choice analysis to examine the rhetoric and strategic manipulations used in this campaign. It outlines patterns and principles applicable to most political campaigns.

"The contributions which Mr. Riker makes in this volume are ingenious and interesting and will probably prove productive. Most useful is his strategic principle, which by virtue of the constraints it places on the coalition process, may make a major contribution to our knowledge.... [This work] is a major contribution to the literature, and we will be studying it for a long time."-American Academy of Political and Social Science, Annals