POLS 206: American National GovernmentWhat is Politics?Overview: Collective Decision-makingDemocracy & other valuesDemocracy & other valuesWho Are Political Actors?Who Are Political Actors?Who Are Political Actors?Who Are Political Actors?Who Are Political Actors?What Determines Political Actions?What Determines Political Actions?What Determines Political Actions?Rationality and the Design of GovernmentRationality and the Design of GovernmentRationality and the Design of GovernmentDifficulties of CooperationDifficulties of CooperationDifficulties of CooperationDifficulties of CooperationThe Prisoner’s DilemmaThe Prisoner’s DilemmaDifficulties of CooperationDifficulties of CooperationDifficulties of CooperationDifficulties of CooperationDifficulties of CooperationDifficulties of CooperationDifficulties of CooperationDifficulties of CooperationDifficulties of CooperationDifficulties of CooperationDifficulties of CooperationDifficulties of CooperationPOLS 206: American National GovernmentMegan K. Dyer September 4, 2014What is Politics?Classic definition: Politics is “who gets what, when, and how.”•Harold Lasswell (1935)•This means:•Managing social conflicts between competing interests & values•Individuals/ groups have to reach agreement on a common courseWho takes part? Who decides?Overview: Collective Decision-makingToday1. American democracy and political values2. Who are political actors?3. Why do they act the way they do?a. What constrains the way they act?b. Why can it be difficult for groups of people to work together?Democracy & other valuesPopular government – “government by the people”•Mod. - democracy"Democracy is two wolves and a sheep deciding what to have for dinner.”Democracy & other valuesThe American political system has other values than democracy:•Liberty•Individual rights•Justice•Rule of lawThreats from an overweening majority•Aside: The Founders thoughts on democracyThe democratization of the American political systemWho Are Political Actors?Who governs?If our political system is democratic:•“The American people” must either be political actors themselves•And/or exercise control over the relevant political actors.Who Are Political Actors?TWO historical broad theories about who really governs the nation:1. Elite Theory (Joseph Schumpeter)•A small group of people make the most important decisions•The people choose between sets of elitesWho Are Political Actors?Who really governs the nation?2. Pluralist Theory (Robert Dahl)•Government is open & accessible•Groups of citizens with shared interests influence public policy•No single group can ever control any major policy areaWho Are Political Actors?3. Hyperpluralism?•PLURALISM GONE WILD•Too many interests, too many groups!•Public policy is fragmented & held hostage •Makes it impossible to governWho Are Political Actors?Which do you think is closer to the truth?1. Elite Theory2. Pluralist Theory3. HyperpluralismWhat Determines Political Actions?Discussed: Who might be the political actors.Next: HOW and WHY they act the way they do in politicsWhat Determines Political Actions?Many political scientists claim that political actors are rationalThey assume that individuals:•are rational actors•have preferences (outcomes they want more than others/)•The act in accordance with them•e.g. ice cream•e.g. strong environmental policyWhat Determines Political Actions?Is rationality perfect?•Information•Bounded rationalityThink of making rational choices like this:•What do I want? •What do I know?•Knowing what I do, what should I do to get what I want?Rationality and the Design of GovernmentIf political actors are rational, the way government is designed to work will influence how they act:•Institutions (like Congress, the President, the Supreme Court)•Rules (the Constitution, rules that affect lawmaking in Congress)Institutions and rules shape outcomes!Rationality and the Design of GovernmentRules constrict choices1. The number and kinds of choices available2. The consequences of one or more choices3. The information an individual has about the choices and/or consequencesRationality and the Design of GovernmentInstitutions•Usually change slowly but can change over time•Are not ‘inherently’ fair•Institutions are designed to favor some groups, interests, & values over others.1. Institutional changes create new choices & new outcomes2. The use of institutions helps to resolve competing preferencesDifficulties of CooperationInstitutions & rules help individuals coordinate group actions•i.e. Lawmaking – Congressional rules•mutually acceptable framework for getting things done•e.g. altBut… Sometimes they can make cooperation more difficult•“checks and balances” •this framework enables cooperation•But…. adversarial powers that cause conflict (e.g veto & override)Difficulties of CooperationWhy is it so difficult for individuals and groups to cooperate and coordinate?TWO Primary reasons:1. Coordination issues2. Collective action problemsDifficulties of CooperationCoordination Issues:•A group of people all have similar preferences•But organizing is a costly activity•e.g. A group of people want to see an opening night movie•e.g. some members of Congress favor certain tax policiesDifficulties of CooperationCollective Action Problems:•A mutually beneficial outcome exists for a group of people•BUT it will not be achieved because people in the group have conflicting preferences.•E.g. The Prisoner’s DilemmaThe Prisoner’s DilemmaThe Prisoner’s Dilemma:•Individuals pursue individual benefits at the expense of each other•Even though the outcome would have been better if they cooperated•e.g. Perp-sweating two robbery suspectsThe Prisoner’s DilemmaThe Prisoner’s Dilemma:•What happens?Difficulties of Cooperation•But that outcome MAY be avoided if:•Interactions are repeated•Compliance is monitored over time•Or if you change the benefits of certain actionsDifficulties of CooperationReal life prisoner’s dilemma-like situationsE.g. organizing a tailgate•Best outcome for you?•Worst outcome for you?•What if everyone chooses not to contribute?E.g. two politicians decide whether or not to use negative adsDifficulties of CooperationCollective action problems can occur when:•Individuals can benefit from collective action w/o incurring costs•Individual contributions will not make much of a