Category Archives: Politics

Watergate As Democratic Ritual

Professor Jeffrey Alexander writes in his 2003 book, The Meanings of Social Life: A Cultural Sociology: * In June 1972, employees of the Republican party made an illegal entry and burglary into the Democratic party headquarters in the Watergate Hotel … Continue reading

Posted in Politics | Comments Off on Watergate As Democratic Ritual

Seizing Power Vs Seeking Outrage

Ezra Klein writes: In his 2020 book “Politics Is for Power,” Eitan Hersh, a political scientist at Tufts, sketched a day in the life of many political obsessives in sharp, if cruel, terms. I refresh my Twitter feed to keep … Continue reading

Posted in Politics | Comments Off on Seizing Power Vs Seeking Outrage

The Four Types Of Politics

Stephen Turner writes about models for balancing the power of expertise: * “High politics” is the politics of leaders. It involves agonistic decision making, and, more generally, decision making in the face of inadequacies of comprehension, typically, it is decision … Continue reading

Posted in Politics | Comments Off on The Four Types Of Politics

Representations of reliability: The rhetoric of political flip-flopping

I just encountered a communications academic who’s consistently clear and fun to read — Joshua M. Bentley. His latest paper: “This study used a qualitative analysis of political flip-flops (N = 141) to create a typology of rhetorical strategies for … Continue reading

Posted in Joshua M. Bentley, Politics | Comments Off on Representations of reliability: The rhetoric of political flip-flopping

Exit, Voice, and Loyalty: A Review

When capable people realize you are a loser, they will just exit. They won’t say anything. They won’t try to change you. The opportunities you’ve missed out on? You won’t even know what you lost. Rob Henderson writes: I listened … Continue reading

Posted in Politics | Comments Off on Exit, Voice, and Loyalty: A Review