PSC 436 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: New England Town, Philip Converse, Mass Media
5 Nov 2017
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Document Summary
Citizens need a basic level of political skills for democratic politics to be purposeful. Theorists have long claimed that the public needs political skills and commitment to. Supercitizen model: democracy needs citizens to be paragons of civic virtue democratic ideals conversations even on the frontier revolved around politics. Tocqueville"s description of america: new england town halls, flocking to political rallies, Contrasted with europe, where right to vote came later (early 20th century) due. Excesses of french rev. produced incivism (lack of civic engagement) to aristocratic traditions. 1950s and 1960s: start of public opinion surveys. Little action (mostly occasional voting) and little understanding of policy (based supercitizen model votes on party alignment and personality) Philip converse in 1964: should be a structure at the core of individual beliefs. Constraints (strong linkages) between individual policy positions. Issue opinions should be stable over time. Found that all three were low, meaning political scientists were often studying.
