American Politics
9/9/13
The Logic of American Politics
Overview
Rational choice
Definition and purpose of politics
Collective action
Barriers
Costs of collective action
Political institutions
Role in overcoming collective action problems
Rational Choice Approach (to the course)
Understanding the way American govt. works
Start by think as individuals as the unit of analysis—individual of the members of Congress, individual voters, e.g.
We assume that individuals have certain preferences and beliefs.
These can come from any number of sources.
We often need to make assumptions about these.
Ex: Assume that members of Congress want to be reelected.
Outcomes are the results of purposive behavior
Behavior is based on preferences and beliefs of individuals in American politics.
Sometimes these outcomes are undesirable or unpredicted.
Ex: Presidential primaries
Overall, we assume that individuals have goals that they pursue them sensibly.
In accord with the beliefs they have.
Ex: Member of Congress wants to be reelected and says that best way to do this is to provide a lot of constituent services.
In short, individuals are self-interested, rational actors
Individuals have their own beliefs in the face of uncertainty.
By self-interested, we do NOT mean that individuals are concerned only with material gain
Individuals pursue their own goals.
These can include personal material gain, but may also include others.
Ex: Members of Congress who care about public policy.
Even if we think of self-interest pejoratively, this does seem inconsistent with the way politicians behave.
Assumption of self-interested politicians underlies the architecture of the American political system.
Same assumption of the framers and defenders of the constitution.
Idea that people are fundamentally self-interested.
Consider the Federalist Papers
Madison (No. 37)
“The history of almost all great councils and consultations held among mankind…is a
The Logic of American Politics
Overview
Rational choice
Definition and purpose of politics
Collective action
Barriers
Costs of collective action
Political institutions
Role in overcoming collective action problems
Rational Choice Approach (to the course)
Understanding the way American govt. works
Start by think as individuals as the unit of analysis—individual of the members of Congress, individual voters, e.g.
We assume that individuals have certain preferences and beliefs.
These can come from any number of sources.
We often need to make assumptions about these.
Ex: Assume that members of Congress want to be reelected.
Outcomes are the results of purposive behavior
Behavior is based on preferences and beliefs of individuals in American politics.
Sometimes these outcomes are undesirable or unpredicted.
Ex: Presidential primaries
Overall, we assume that individuals have goals that they pursue them sensibly.
In accord with the beliefs they have.
Ex: Member of Congress wants to be reelected and says that best way to do this is to provide a lot of constituent services.
In short, individuals are self-interested, rational actors
Individuals have their own beliefs in the face of uncertainty.
By self-interested, we do NOT mean that individuals are concerned only with material gain
Individuals pursue their own goals.
These can include personal material gain, but may also include others.
Ex: Members of Congress who care about public policy.
Even if we think of self-interest pejoratively, this does seem inconsistent with the way politicians behave.
Assumption of self-interested politicians underlies the architecture of the American political system.
Same assumption of the framers and defenders of the constitution.
Idea that people are fundamentally self-interested.
Consider the Federalist Papers
Madison (No. 37)
“The history of almost all great councils and consultations held among mankind…is a