Given the incredibly low rates of voter participation and political interest manifest by American citizens, how does American democracy still manage to work?
What will be an ideal response?
There are two main strands of thought regarding this question. Students should note that one theory posits that individual participation doesn’t matter that much since the important decisions are made by elites, including business and political leaders, educators, the military and the media. Another explanation, which is based upon the pluralist theory of democracy, suggests that individual participation is unnecessary since people’s views are represented in government through group membership, such as environmental groups, professional associations, labor unions, parent–teacher organizations, veterans’ groups, churches, and political parties. Students should also note that, conversely, some educators and social scientists insist that the trend toward a self-interested, individualistic citizenry, among whom many believe that since they were born free, they will always remain free, is a sign of true crisis in American politics.
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