Homework Question on “Culture War”
- First, read the excerpt from the book by Morris Fiorina et al. called Culture War? The Myth of a Polarized America (2nd edition), I would like you to read all of Chapter 2. For Chapter 3, just read the first few pages (up through p.37 or so), so you can understand what Fiorina is aiming to do with his Red State / Blue State comparisons, and then examine each of the Tables and Figures in the rest of the chapter.
- Then, write a 1 to 2 sentence answer for each of the following five questions, using your own words.
- What’s the difference between a “closely divided” and “deeply divided” public?
- On what basis does Fiorina conclude that “political activists are not like normal people”? (In what way are they “not normal”?)
- In what ways do the routines of media reporters lead them to the mistaken conclusion that the country is polarized between liberals and conservatives?
- What’s the difference between a “polarization of choices” and a “polarization of positions”?
- Looking at tables such as Tables 3.5, 3.6, 3.8, and 3.11 (pp. 40-49), what is the main point that Fiorina would like us to take away from these statistics?
- The reading:
- https://myasucourses.asu.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-11557695-dt-content-rid-55780355_1/courses/2015Fall-T-POS191-73843-73844/Fiorina%20-%20chaps%202-3.pdf
Homework Answer on “Culture War”
#1 Closely divided and deeply divided
In a scenario where a group of individuals need to make decision regarding two different choices, there is a possibility that every individual n the group has his/her own idea of one choice and a reason to why not the other choices. The scenario where each individual has a liking for one choice and a dislike for the other choice is what explains the meaning of deep division. When the same scenario has three choices with the third one composed of individuals who are undecided and is proportionate to the others describes the meaning of close divided.
#2
Only a few individuals in America are well informed on political issues. They are more knowledgeable on issues that affect the citizens of a country. They normally have the greatest say regarding political matters.
#3
According to Fiorina, the media has a major contribution to the issue of polarization in two distinct versions; they present the idea that entire nation has been divided through the stories that tend to cause conflicts between two parties since they tend to succeed in the market than other developmental stories. As far as politicians are concerned, journalists contemplate on the social involvements of this people and not their analysis in view of particular issues.