Melden Sie sich bei getAbstract an, um die Zusammenfassung zu erhalten.

Politics Is for Power

Melden Sie sich bei getAbstract an, um die Zusammenfassung zu erhalten.

Politics Is for Power

How to Move Beyond Political Hobbyism, Take Action, and Make Real Change

Scribner,

15 Minuten Lesezeit
5 Take-aways
Text verfügbar

Was ist drin?

A political scientist urges Americans to stop merely consuming politics and start practicing it.

Editorial Rating

9

Qualities

  • Applicable
  • Eye Opening
  • Inspiring

Recommendation

In a world awash in national dramas and hot takes, US political scientist Eitan Hersh questions why we consume news. Does it keep us politically informed, or does it, in fact, prevent us from becoming more actively engaged? Hersh presents a theory of political hobbyism: A growing number of people, he argues, are treating politics as a pastime rather than a means of acquiring and exercising power. Through striking statistics and inspiring stories, Hersh explores the development of this passive approach to politics, what it means for democracy and whether it can – or should – be overcome.

Summary

In a world awash in national dramas and hot takes, American political scientist Eitan Hersh questions why we consume news. Does it keep us politically informed, or does it, in fact, prevent us from becoming more actively engaged? Hersh presents a theory of political hobbyism: A growing number of people, he argues, are treating politics as a pastime rather than a means of acquiring and exercising power. Through striking statistics and inspiring stories, Hersh explores the development of this passive approach to politics, what it means for democracy and whether it can – or should – be overcome.

Many Americans have made a hobby out of following politics. 

Hobbies – socially approved activities people do in their free time because they enjoy them – generally fall into four categories: the collecting of objects, the acquisition of knowledge, crafts and group activities. When people treat politics as a hobby, their activities center on acquiring knowledge in the form of political news and making crafts in the form of political content, such as tweets, memes or podcasts.

Most political hobbyists don’t acquire knowledge in order to take ...

About the Author

Eitan Hersh is a political scientist at Tufts University. His research and teaching focus on voting rights, US elections and civic participation.

Comment on this summary

More on this topic

Learners who read this summary also read

8
Book
Uncivil Agreement
8
Book
Republican Like Me
8
Book
Against Democracy
8
Book
Partisan Nation
8
Book
Going to Extremes
8
Report
Truth Decay

    Related Channels

    Politik in den USA
    Empfehlungen der Redaktion
    Politik
    Gesellschaft