POLS 150 Lecture Notes - Lecture 20: Civic Engagement
Document Summary
10/30/19: reset: poverty as barrier to instability, conservatism of destitute and privileged. Reaping disproportion amt of econ windfall as result of industrial/modernization. No linear relationships btwn econ & poli modernization. =no engagement of behavior that would destabilize system. Privileged class in poor society, necessarily wouldn"t want change. If it aint broke don"t fix it. Destitute in same poor society, won"t initiate change too. =why conservatism of the poor: public interest is based on strengthening public organizations and institutions (ie their interests) * Public interests: what will make organization/institution stronger. Wants or needs determined by organizations: politics involves unrelenting competition, so immoral behavior can happen. Barrier to resolving public interests i: will to win becomes overwhelming immoral/unethical/unjust behavior iii. Individuals need to be strong enough to not be corrupt (b: weak political organizations and institutions fail to limit excesses of human desire.