Difference between revisions of "Social Structural Theories of Voting"
| Line 13: | Line 13: | ||
Politics - parties activate class identity, religious identity - based on how much support they gain. | Politics - parties activate class identity, religious identity - based on how much support they gain. | ||
| + | |||
Connections between voting and social predictors | Connections between voting and social predictors | ||
| + | |||
1. socio-economic | 1. socio-economic | ||
| + | |||
2. religion | 2. religion | ||
| + | |||
3. ethnicity | 3. ethnicity | ||
Three fundamental processes by which associations are formed | Three fundamental processes by which associations are formed | ||
| + | |||
1. Differentiation - look at a group (group B)and see that they are different than us. Since we do not believe that way, we must be something else (group A). | 1. Differentiation - look at a group (group B)and see that they are different than us. Since we do not believe that way, we must be something else (group A). | ||
| + | |||
2. Transmission - attention transmitted through authority figure to child (through friends, teachers, etc.) | 2. Transmission - attention transmitted through authority figure to child (through friends, teachers, etc.) | ||
| + | |||
3. Contact - direct contact with other members of the social group. | 3. Contact - direct contact with other members of the social group. | ||
| + | |||
Challenges: | Challenges: | ||
| Line 29: | Line 37: | ||
Realigning elections in United States history | Realigning elections in United States history | ||
| + | |||
1800 — Thomas Jefferson - Democratic-Republican Party (from the Federalist Party) | 1800 — Thomas Jefferson - Democratic-Republican Party (from the Federalist Party) | ||
| + | |||
1828 — Andrew Jackson - Democratic Party | 1828 — Andrew Jackson - Democratic Party | ||
| + | |||
1860 — Abraham Lincoln - Republican Party | 1860 — Abraham Lincoln - Republican Party | ||
| + | |||
1896 — William McKinley - Republican Party (marked the beginning of the Progressive Era) | 1896 — William McKinley - Republican Party (marked the beginning of the Progressive Era) | ||
| + | |||
1932 — Franklin Delano Roosevelt - Democrat (New Deal) | 1932 — Franklin Delano Roosevelt - Democrat (New Deal) | ||
| + | |||
1964 - Lyndon B. Johnson - Democratic | 1964 - Lyndon B. Johnson - Democratic | ||
| + | |||
1968 — Richard Nixon - Republican | 1968 — Richard Nixon - Republican | ||
| + | |||
1980 — Ronald Reagan - Republican | 1980 — Ronald Reagan - Republican | ||
| + | |||
Reasons for realignment: | Reasons for realignment: | ||
| + | |||
class weakens | class weakens | ||
| + | |||
increase in education | increase in education | ||
| + | |||
greater amount of contact outside of our groups | greater amount of contact outside of our groups | ||
| + | |||
secularization | secularization | ||
| + | |||
Other challenges: | Other challenges: | ||
| − | New American Voter (from 1960's (published in 1970's)) | + | |
| − | Vote more on issues instead of party | + | New American Voter (from 1960's (published in 1970's)) - Vote more on issues instead of party, voters are sophisticated and more knowledgeable |
| − | voters are sophisticated and more knowledgeable | + | |
Class - service economy | Class - service economy | ||
| + | |||
divide between public and private sector workers | divide between public and private sector workers | ||
| Line 69: | Line 92: | ||
(Example: If person A is married to person B and person B works with person C, even though person A has never met person C, they influence one another through person B.)-- | (Example: If person A is married to person B and person B works with person C, even though person A has never met person C, they influence one another through person B.)-- | ||
| − | Chain of influences diminish quickly-- | + | Chain of influences diminish quickly--weak ties only have an effect when the individual is once removed, no more. |
| − | More influence over disagreements than though agreements | + | More influence over disagreements than though agreements. The more diverse an individual's network is, the more knowledgeable and likely to participate s/he is likely to be. |
Revision as of 13:26, 11 October 2008
This lecture was given in PS 240 on 9/26 and continued on 9/29 briefly.
Possible Exam Questions
1. List and describe the connections between voting and social predictors. 2. Explain dealignment / realignment, and list three realigning elections in the United States.
Lecture Material
We covered...
Social context - Origins of our beliefs, etc. - instilled in us - our attitudes and the attitudes of others.
Politics - parties activate class identity, religious identity - based on how much support they gain.
Connections between voting and social predictors
1. socio-economic
2. religion
3. ethnicity
Three fundamental processes by which associations are formed
1. Differentiation - look at a group (group B)and see that they are different than us. Since we do not believe that way, we must be something else (group A).
2. Transmission - attention transmitted through authority figure to child (through friends, teachers, etc.)
3. Contact - direct contact with other members of the social group.
Challenges:
Dealignment / Realignment (shifts or dramatic changes in political alignments)
Realigning elections in United States history
1800 — Thomas Jefferson - Democratic-Republican Party (from the Federalist Party)
1828 — Andrew Jackson - Democratic Party
1860 — Abraham Lincoln - Republican Party
1896 — William McKinley - Republican Party (marked the beginning of the Progressive Era)
1932 — Franklin Delano Roosevelt - Democrat (New Deal)
1964 - Lyndon B. Johnson - Democratic
1968 — Richard Nixon - Republican
1980 — Ronald Reagan - Republican
Reasons for realignment:
class weakens
increase in education
greater amount of contact outside of our groups
secularization
Other challenges:
New American Voter (from 1960's (published in 1970's)) - Vote more on issues instead of party, voters are sophisticated and more knowledgeable
Class - service economy
divide between public and private sector workers
post materialism
quality of life - environment, air quality, etc
partisan identification
Network Theory:
Who you are connected to, who you discuss politics with-- Micro level (how individuals interact); Macro level would be something like "How does the middle class vote?"-- Individuals weigh information they receive-- Social groups are not together all the time-- Strong ties vs. weak ties-- Strong ties include marriage, children, friends (close and acquaintances)-- Weak ties include how you might influence someone you do not know through another person (Example: If person A is married to person B and person B works with person C, even though person A has never met person C, they influence one another through person B.)--
Chain of influences diminish quickly--weak ties only have an effect when the individual is once removed, no more. More influence over disagreements than though agreements. The more diverse an individual's network is, the more knowledgeable and likely to participate s/he is likely to be.
