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Politics Is for Power
Book

Politics Is for Power

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

Scribner, 2020 更多详情


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.

Take-Aways

  • Many Americans have made a hobby out of following politics. 
  • People who treat politics as a pastime focus on satisfying private needs rather than gaining public power.
  • Political hobbyism has become popular among the privileged elite, who remain insulated from working-class anxieties.

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.


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