Public Opinion in a Democracy April 1, 2011

Objectives By the end of this meeting, participants should be able to: a)Define public opinion. b)Argue in favor or against major theories of democracy, positively or normatively. c)Define the key terms we use to understand public opinion.

What is public opinion?

Historical Definitions a)Ancient Greece b)Rome c)Rousseau (1744)- the customs and manners of all members of society (not just elites) d)French authors in the 1780s used the word interchangeably with common will, public spirit and public conscience e)By the 19 th century the word was common among those who wrote about government

Historical Definitions a)While the word did not enter common parlance until the 18 th century, philosophers were interested in the concept for centuries b)Plato, Aristotle, Locke and Hobbes all saw public opinion as more the aggregation of the opinions in society. They saw it as a mass entity with a strong potential to alter society.

What is Public Opinion? a)The public can be singular or plural b)Verbal expression of an attitude c)Disagreements of matters of preference About issues that relate to government About issues that relate to government Held by adults, including subgroups (i.e., the attentive public) Held by adults, including subgroups (i.e., the attentive public) Preference includes affect (feelings) and cognition (the process of knowing) Preference includes affect (feelings) and cognition (the process of knowing) d)The preferences of the adult population on matters of relevance to government

Linkage between Public Opinion and Public Policies a)Rational-Activist Model / Particpatory Democracy Voters should be involved, rational and active Voters should be involved, rational and active Voters should cast ballots for those closest to their issue preferences Voters should cast ballots for those closest to their issue preferences b)Pluralism: Intermediary Institutions oPolitical Parties Voters choose the party that is closest to their preferences Voters choose the party that is closest to their preferences oInterest Groups Interest groups play an intermediate role between elected officials and the electorate Interest groups play an intermediate role between elected officials and the electorate c)Delegate Model / Democratic Elitism Elected officials represent the attitudes of the public for fear that will not be elected/ reelected Elected officials represent the attitudes of the public for fear that will not be elected/ reelected d)Sharing Model Elected officials share beliefs with the broader public Elected officials share beliefs with the broader public

Public Opinion and Public Policy a)Which one of theories comes closest to your view? b)What are strengths and weaknesses of each view? c)Do interest groups, parties, or representatives come closer to representing your opinions? Is that answer different at different levels of government?

Terminology a)Attitude b)Opinion a)Extremity b)Importance c)Dispositions a)Values b)Identification (party) c)Are independents free from party identification? d)Beliefs (cognition) e)Emotions (affect) f)Positive vs. Normative Analysis

For April 8 a)Read Clawson & Oxley, Chapter 2 b)What do you find most interesting about the inset, Box 2-1? c)Write down a childhood experience you’re willing to share that influenced your outlook on politics. d)April 4: No class. e)For April 6: Write!