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Summary POLITICAL SCIENCE 212 NOTES
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- Stellenbosch University (SUN)
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Lecture 1 – Introduction: What is political behaviour?Dalton (Chapter 2)
Why do we study political behaviour?
- Active debate on the vitality (state of being strong and active) of contemporary
democracy.
- New political challenges have emerged over time, in the established democracies.
- The democratic process is dependent on participation.
“people are the best judge of their own destiny”
- We want to understand and predict political behaviour.
- Democracy = “citizenship politics”, BUT do we understand the citizens to whom we
give so much responsibility?
- Recently – fall of communism move towards democracy.
- Success of democracy is measured by:
1. Public’s participation in political process.
2. Respect for citizen rights.
3. Responsiveness of political system to popular demands toward the political
system.
- “in a democracy the people get the kind of government they deserve – for better or
worse” – Adlai Stevenson (contested statement)
- Challenge:
o Public is not homogenous.
Different ideologies, opinions, interests and experiences.
o Understanding the decline in civic engagement.
- Study of behaviour = study of attitudes (attitudes inform behaviour)
- Measure support for/involvement in the political system.
How do we study the attitudes of citizens?
- Methodology:
o Surveys
o Questionnaires
o Representative
- Strengths of the Methodology
o Surveys = general questions
o Questionnaires = can ask questions on motivations and expectations
o Samples = can test the attitudes of different groups
1
, (Statistics provide a test/ yardstick for qualitative theory.)
Why comparative studies of public opinion?
- Do a comparison of Western countries.
- England, France, Germany and the USA.
- Similar systems and roles for citizens.
- Comparison makes it possible to determine what is more “universally” true.
- Determine impact of system and institutions (e.g. electoral system, party competition
and functioning of the state).
- Confirm or refute theory.
The changing nature of political behaviour.
- Premise: political behaviour is changing.
WHY?
- Industrialisation – unprecedented economic well-being.
- Restructuring of labour market.
- Urbanisation – diversifies occupations and interests and allows for geographic and
social mobility.
- Organisations = voluntary rather than communal and more spontaneous in
organisation.
- Greater access to education + better access to information = most sophisticated
public in history.
- Weaker social networks = more diversity in political opinion.
- New role for governments – more responsibility for social support / protection.
- Decline in “traditional” participation (elections).
o Increase in unconventional participation (protests, action groups, direct
participation).
- Politics of affluence.
o More focus on issues.
o New issues (environment, nuclear, equality, human rights, gender equality).
- Changes in party politics.
o Less stable.
o More fragmentation and more parties.
o Class less important – erodes social basis of voting.
o Education and information make it possible for more people to make
independent political decisions.
2
,- Better quality of life tends to make people more critical of government.
- Crisis in legitimacy – new values creates scepticism toward elite-controlled
hierarchical organisations (like political parties) (environment, nuclear, equality,
human rights, gender equality).
3
, Lecture 2 – What are attitudes?
Manheim (Chapter 2)
What is an attitude? (def.)
- It is a predisposition to respond to a particular stimulus in a particular manner.
o Attitudes intervene between a stimulus and a reaction/response.
o In the process of receiving a message, you interpret it.
Attitudes intervene between stimulus and response.
Functions of attitudes
“...only in the context of our existing storehouse of beliefs and values can any new
experience, any new information that we encounter while communicating with the world, take
on meaning. Only on the basis of our existing wants, needs, knowledge and expectations
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