chapter 4 prewitt

8/3/2019 Chapter 4 Prewitt

1/4

Chapter 4

Entry into the Active Stratum: Three Pathways

In this chapter the attention given to the earliest interest is shifted toward the earliest

activity.Research Question: What factors determine the composition of the politically active

stratum?

Prewitt provides a general description of the earliest activities but also he tries to find an

explanation on how different experiences are associated with the three pathways

presented in the previous chapter:

a) of those people who entered politics as politically socialized, orb) as politically mobilized, orc) as the lateral entrants

Personal experiences and Community Conditions associated with the InitialActivity

1. Civic activitiesTo step from a civic role into the politically active stratum is the most frequent route.

And an example is given on the American society which reflects the structure of the civic

life on the politically active stratum: the fact that Americans are joiners and they choose

to involve into organizations, groups, clubs and the fact that associational membership is

related to political participation.

The frequency with which a civic role ushers persons into the active stratum is importantin two respects:

a) it means that civic organizations and activities dominate the shaping of thepolitically active stratum

b) the elected position is an extension of a community role formed by and spelledout in the numerous volunteer organizations

Regarding the issue ofvolunteerism, there is an explanation of how should we regard

the concept: Some theorists say that democracy is viable only to the extent that the

elected leaders want to stay in office (Dahl: elections are crucial device for

controlling leaders). Other sustain that if the elected leader is indifferent to future

contests, he is a dangerous leader, because the volunteer is a man free to ignore

constituent wishes.

2. Partisan activitiesPartisan activities find themselves in contrast to civic roles regarding the no of

councilman they ushered into politics.


2/4

The few members who cited partisan activities as instrumental in their initial political

involvement are those who can be placed in the first pathway, they are those whose

political roots breach back to childhood.

!! This fact demonstrates that civic organizations play a major part in screening,

selecting, and nominating people.

3. The occupational NexusIt is well-known that certain occupations are overrepresented among political leaders.

- Professional and occupational roles can be so located in the social network that they

facilitate movement into the active stratum.

-Lawyers, union leaders, lobbyists, businessmen and educators, by virtue of their

occupational duties, are closely linked to the public sector.

- The convergence of professional-occupational roles and political activity has a

major consequence for political life because the skills and the perspectives available

in the leadership group are those available in the active stratum.

!!The occupational makeup of political leadership is subject to change.

These three types of activities are the one influencing the structure of the active

stratum but Prewitt continues with two influential community conditions:

1. Sense of Personal Investment in the CommunityPersons who feel they have a stake in their community do attempt to control political

resources.

- 22% of the councilmen report getting involved in the community leadershipbecause of a life-time experience which reminded them that political levers could

be pulled to advantage: buying property, sending children off to school, going into

business etc.

- Leaders first became politically active to protect some community investmentsuggests a reason why the prevailing ideology in so many of these communities is

protective the status quo.

2. Communitywide Political EventsCommunity upheavals act as socializing mobilizing agencies. Prominent among

such community events are recall elections, incorporation movements and annexation

drives.

Large segments of the population, previously indifferent to local politics, become

agitated and activated in response to the sense of community urgency implicit in

times of recall, incorporation or annexation. 23% of the councilmen date the

beginning of their public careers from a period of major community change.

Attitudes and values associated with Initial Activity

Lawyers, union leaders, lobbyists, businessmen and educators , by virtue of their

occupational duties , are closely linked to the public sector.


3/4

Prewitt tries to answer to two main questions:

1. What political attitudes are associated with initial activity?There were identified four main attitudes which determined the decision to join theactive stratum:

a) a sense of political indignation or protestb) a feeling of civic obligationc) an attitude of pragmatism and problem-solvingd) a sense of general interest, even curiosity.Reformers, pragmatists, the socially conscious and the generally interested are always

energizing forces in national and local politics.

The kind of career entry pattern followed by councilmen is differentially associated

with the attitudes they express.

e.g. both the socialized and mobilized councilmen see their early involvement in the

context of pragmatic goals and problem solving activities.

2. Whether the political stereotypes affect self-selection patterns?Cultural stereotypes serve as selective devices affecting those who join the active

stratum.

-politics is dirty and attractive only to the dishonest-expect self-seeking to becomeactive

- politics is public service and attractive to statesman-like person expect the civic

minded to seek for active roles

Easton: the effect of cultural norms in political life is to impose outer limits on the

number and kinds of persons seeking entry into active stratumThe notion of cultural stereotypes affect selection processes has a theoretical affinity.

Political life can also be dominated by images and stereotypes, and that these, in turn

affect who will choose, and be chosen for, leadership positions.

e.g. People and councilmen were not ask regarding how clean or dirty politics is but they

were asked whether they consider their job to be a political one or whether the people in

the community viewed the council as a political body.

Politics- is in a bad repute among the councilmen.

The municipalities leaders are non-political rather than anti-political.

Summary observations

1. As youths, elected officials experienced greater exposure to thingspolitical than is usual during their preadult years.

2. The personal experiences which facilitated a political career wereexceedingly varied.

a) the politically socialized

b) the politically mobilized


4/4

c) the lateral entrants

3. A variety of life experiences ushers persons in the active stratum = a wide

range of values and ideologies will be represented in that stratum

4. Entry into the active stratum is facilitated by its porous boundaries and by

its numerous access points

Within limits set by considerations of socioeconomic advantage, the social processes

shaping the active stratum guarantee a diversity of opinion and background among

actives that strongly contradicts the oligarchic assumptions.

chapter 4 prewitt

Documents