Political Science

A detailed Summary of Political Science

Albert O. Hirschman introduces three concepts that deal with the way people tends react in today's society when they are displeased with something. The three concepts are exit, voice, and loyalty. These concepts will be further discussed in the following paragraphs. If one were to look at these three concepts in mind, they discover that these three concepts can provide some understanding of America as described by David Riesman and Judith Shklar. These three concepts can be interpreted in such a way that it show how people are in the American Society and how they can even change the system when they voice their opinion. David Riesman discusses how some people are- individualists who will not always follow the majority crowd and conformists who are willing to go through anything to stay within the group even if it means something that they are totally against. It is important to note Riesman states that these individuals are only extremes and that in real life they do not exist. He believes that people are just a blend of both types. People are willing to exercise the option of exit in some certain cases and will remain loyal to other types of cases. Shkler gives further insight to Hirschman's concept by discussing how min

This clearly proves that other-directed people are always trying to be apart of something and that they will conform in order to stay in it. This shows the current trend in the American Society.

ority groups voiced their opinions in order to change an entire society.

"What is common to all the other-directed people is that their contemporaries are the source of direction for the individual-either those known to him or those with whom he is indirectly acquainted, through friends and through the mass media. This source is of course "internalized" in the sense that dependence on it for guidance in life is implanted early. The goals toward which the other directed person strives shift with that guidance: it is only the process of striving itself and the process of paying close attention to the signals from other that remain unaltered throughout life" (Riesman 22)

permanent activism or total apathy." (Hirschman 32) With that in mind, the option exit can help provide an understanding of America and how democracy works. The quote previously stated by Hirschman shows that the option exit is not a useless. In fact it helps maintain a democracy because it allows people to not always to follow the majority. They have a chance to just go on their own way. It allows a minority group to form and therefore keep a democracy- majority rule with the respect of minority rights.

In many situations in the American Society, injustices were set up to prevent people to enjoy true equality. Exit is sometimes not the best option to use in dealing with certain situations. This is when voice comes to play in understanding America. When exit does not seem like an option, people in a democracy rebel and raise their voices in order not only to be heard of the injustice they believe is put upon them, but also to change it to eradicate the injustice. Hirschman states that "...the exit option is likely to be met with a mixture of incredulity." (Hirschman 30) Here he specifically states that exit usually does not happen quietly. People will try to first voice their opinion to try to change the system and will only exit if all other options have been used. An example that fits this option can be found in Shkalr's book, American Citizenship. The slaves wanted the right to vote and they voiced that they believed that they had the right to vote. The blacks felt that it was necessary to vote in order to achieve equality. Fredrick Douglas states "Slavery is not abolished until the black man has the ballot." (Shklar 52) It shows how important it was for the black man to vote. They kept voicing their opinion until the changed had occurred and the right to vote was granted to them. This shows how effective voice can be. It had not only allowed blacks to vote but it also allowed women to vote. In the beginning, voting was only allowed to white people who had property. However, because minority groups, such as the blacks and women, exercised the option of voice, race and sex can no longer be used as a factor in denying someone their rite to vote. This option also provides an understanding o

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Approximate Word count = 2092
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Politics