June 28 2010

Monday, June 28, 2010

9:37 AM

1. Collective action - group of people working toward common goal Small groups tend to overcome
a. Coordinated efforts by people with shared interests to produce public goods as well as private collective action problems to achieve
goods. their interests because easier to
b. Roadblocks to collective action communicate, more interactive with
i. Defection - exiting group each other, more likely to have ppl with
ii. Free-loading (majorly affecting large groups) - no helping out the group, but still enjoying same mindset. Hold together more….
benefits, may lead to a downward spiral Have more coercion
c. Select Benefits/incentives
i. Keep ppl in group
d. Mancur Olson ("Logic of collective action") Larger groups have a larger success
i. Unless the # of individuals in a group are quite small, or unless there is coercion (penalty for because the can stand some losses,
considering defecting), or unless there is some special device (select benefit) to make defections, and free riders.
individuals to act in their common interests. rational self Individuals will NOT work toward
common interests but rather their own.

2. Political pluralism - multiple people engaged in "tug of war" for direction of what nation should go A reasonable person will cooperate if
(policies) others are willing to cooperate because
3. Democracy and good gov't require many collective participants a that person is understanding and
pragmatic.
Robert Dahl (political scientist) wrote about political systems
Polyarchy - everyday people involved.
Group oriented, small groups, well organized to pursue interests

Elections in adequate to reveal interests of individuals

4. Like- minded individuals (automatically form groups)

5. Cooperation -----> Social Capital ----> increase group size

a. Networks- people you associated with
b. norms - values we have, expectations
c. Trust - believe that someone will act in a way that is consistent in someone else's interests

6. One willing provider issue - a person wants something so bad, that they are willing to take all the
associated costs. They believe that it would help everyone though others do not really care.
a. Example is NATO, the US provides more cause it is important to them and is willing to let go of
their resources to secure its own country, and by extension help out other countries

Political Culture
a. "Democracy in America" written by Alexis de Tocqueville (French aristocrat who came to America to
evaluate the penitentiary system and laws)

June 28 20...
Government AP course Page 1
 evaluate the penitentiary system and laws)

June 28 20...

Audio recording started: 1:27 PM Monday, June 28, 2010

1. Book is about American democratic culture and liberties, and what the institutions helped produce and
continued to produce.
2. Political institutes - congress, legislature, judiciary, executive
3. Book looks at democracy in 3D; geography, historical origin, Anglo American social condition
a. Said success of democracy was because of 1. federalism, 2. race relations, 3. political culture

Characteristics that foster a stable democracy in the USA

Pragmatism - Americans are practical people than abstract ( Americans a real world applications
oriented) We see the limitations of Democracy, don't consider unreal democracy.

Individualism - Inherent belief that progress in the individual and societal level, "The protestant work
ethic" You can advance yourself with hard work. Hard work and effort will achieve great outcome for
yourself
. Threatened democracy if it was unbridled individualism, by selfishness. Undermine morality and
culture itself.
. Robert Putnam - "bowling alone" - the collapse and revival of American community - Americans
have become discontent with other members of society, detached from families, friends,
neighbors. This would impact our overall democratic structure, Very fabric of connection between
each other was beginning to unravel.

Spiritualism - Americans are more religious than European counterparts, helps us define our democratic
conduct and institutions according to a international survey. From religion comes what is right and what
is just. (abolition, women's right, civil rights )

Groupism - Americans like to create groups.

Substance of political culture

a. Large scale political institutions
b. Cynicism toward political leaders and institutions

Cynical, and pessimistic of political culture - political paranoia

a. We don’t trust leaders or government
b. Own suspicions about people, institutions, and groups

Constitution created to calm the cynical motions of the public, alleved fear of officals working for self-
interests

Political Paranoia is a good thing, put into place institutions that have been useful for democracy,
constitution that bonds people to certain rules and rights.
a. Anti-masonic movement = elite members, political elites, all in a secret society, pursue interests of
members instead of the public.
b. Anti- catholic's = Pope would have control in US, protestant US.
c. Red scare

Paranoia allows US citizens to be constantly vigilant to defend our democratic rights

Government AP course Page 2