|
During this section of
the course we explore all of the aspects associated with making demands
upon the political system. We will explore this phenomenon from a
number of perspectives:
Theoretically:
"What do the elite, democratic and
plural theories say about the articulation of interests?"
Empirically:
"What can we discover about
interest articulation through data analysis?
Comparatively:
"What is the difference between the U.S. and other nations regarding interest
articulation?" (ie., political
parties)
Interest articulation can be explored from the individual and group
contexts.
Depending upon the system explored the group context can include both
interest groups and political parties!
Individual
Interest Articulation
Theoretically,
how does each one of the theories view individual participation?
1)
Elite theory
2) Democratic Theory
3) Plural theory
Empirically, what have people discovered?
The Hierarchy of Political
Involvement (L. Milbrath)
Milbrath discovered that
Americans could be divided into a relatively small number of categories
(approximate percentages) when it came to individual political
participation:
|
Gladiators
(1%)
holding public
office being a candidate soliciting funds attending
a caucus or strategy session contributing time to a
political campaign |
|
Transitionals
(3%)
attending a
political meeting or rally contributing money contacting
a political leader |
|
Spectators
(62 %)
button
or bumper sticker attempt to
convince vote |
|
Apathetics
(34%) |
Which theoretical approach is supported by
this data?
Messages American Get About
Politics (R. Reiter)
|
politics is
private
|
|
politics is
individualistic
|
|
politics is
episodic
|
What Motivates People to
Participate? (Incentives)
psychic (ideological)
solidary (social)
material
(financial)
Other Factors
Individual
Attitudes, Values, Opinions, Beliefs Political
Socialization Political Stimuli
|
Opinions
verbal
expression of an attitude shaped by current experience that vary
in: direction/ intensity/ stability
|
|
Attitudes
relatively
enduring organization of interrelated beliefs that describe,
evaluate and advocate action
|
|
Values
normative
statements of things thought to be desirable
|
|
Beliefs
an individual's
description of his/ her environment
|
Public
Opinion
how is it measured?
Attitudes
We'll Explore
| Trust |
| Efficacy |
| Anomie |
| Civic Duty |
Political Knowledge
| 