The Unseen

In: Polity: the journal of the Northeastern Political Science Association, Band 46, Heft 4, S. 493-497

Abstract

Since the days of the ancient Greeks, students of Western politics have noted the blindness of political authorities with a mixture of amusement, alarm, and hope. Ibn Sina argued that the primary purpose of politics was to contain the forces of chaos that threaten human affairs. Since this argument propped up existing, earthly orders, Ibn Sina did not feel compelled to hide his thoughts about the contribution of religious leaders to political regimes. Using survey data and statistical analysis, the authors argue that voters' views of economic conditions (including the voters' own economic well-being) are profoundly mediated by the voters' pre-existing collective identity--especially their sense of being part of a nation and of their nation's treatment by the European Union (EU). Adapted from the source document.