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ANALYSIS OF TACITUS' DIALOGUE INDICATES TACITUS' CONCERN WITH THE CHANGING NATURE OF POLITICAL ACTIVITY UNDER VARIOUS POLITICAL REGIMES. THE TRANSITION FROM THE ROMAN REPUBLIC TO THE TYRANNY OF THE PRINCIPATE NECESSITATED THE CHAGE FROM A RELIANCE ON ORATORY TO A RELIANCE ON ART AS THE NEW MODE OF POLITICAL ACTIVITY.

This study examines the att's of citizens to actions that might be taken under hyp'al conditions of gov'al oppression. A technique called Polarized Subgroup Analysis (PSA) was used to divide a nat'l sample of adults (N= 1,200, 18 yrs of age or older) into groups that varied in the amount of systemic punishment that they had experienced. Those who had experienced greater amounts of systemic punishment were less pol'ly active & more rigid in the modes of action that they had utilized. They were more rigid psychol'ly & had higher levels of endorsement of official internal & internat'l use of force. A theory of reduced alternatives is proposed, which hyp'izes that systemic punishment leads to a reduction in pol'al activity as well as behavioral & psychol'al rigidity. It is this rigidity that leads to anxiety over complex situations & increased dependency upon & subsequent identification with authority to reduce the anxiety. This identification then results in greater endorsement of official uses of force, as well as reduced opposition to gov'al oppression. Opposition to gov requires a wide range of pol'al alternatives, which reduces anxiety & dependence & the need for identification. The conditions under which withdrawal (alienation) may occur are briefly discussed. Evidence is given that nonwhites in the US do not identify with authority. (See also SA 0829/E9781.) Modified HA.

Migrants from Appalachia are seen as an emergent Ur ethnic group because of their distinct demographic profile & ingroup/outgroup recognition. However, a comparison of political activity indicators shows that white Appalachians in the Cincinnati, Ohio, metropolitan area most closely resemble the local black population. Data were gathered through survey interviews of 753 white non-Appalachians, 237 white Appalachians, & 127 black non-Appalachians. Appalachian origin appears to have little direct bearing on Rs' political behavior. 2 Tables, 15 References. Modified HA.

Extended is the theory of coercion developed by A. Breton (The Economic Theory of Representative Government, Chicago: Aldine, 1974) to various conditions of citizen ignorance. Breton hypothesized that a citizen participates in political activities to alter policies which either presently or/& may eventually constrain him from achieving the maximum possible utility for his income level & conception of fairness. This proposition is extended in three steps: (1) a general equilibrium model is derived to replace the partial equilibrium analysis used by Breton, (2) the problem of citizen ignorance is introduced into the model, (3) the impact of the choice of equity rule to guide public decisions is examined. Five possible sources of coercion are identified & examined: (A) government ignorance of citizen preferences (previously treated by Breton), (B) government ignorance of the productive capability of the society, (C) citizen ignorance of one another's preferences & productive capability, (D) incompatibility of equity & efficiency criteria, & (E) disagreement over the proper standard of equity. Political propaganda is an important tool for reducing coercion regardless of the form of government. In cases where the government seeks to maximize societal welfare, propaganda is used to demonstrate the benefits of the resulting policies. However, even if the government does not pursue welfare maximizing goals propaganda is usefully employed to minimize the perceived welfare loss. Thus, while the level of coercion may be independent of real utility loss when citizens are ignorant, the strategy chosen by government to deal with coercion depends upon its policy with respect to the real loss. 6 Figures. AA.

Responses to open-ended questions were placed in ordered categories along 5 cognitive dimensions. The properties measured were informational.

Rational actor theory & the facts of political participation have long been in an uneasy relationship. Many citizens vote & take part in other political activities when theory would predict that they would take a free ride. This paper draws on several analyses of citizen participation, for some of which rational actor theory is quite useful, & for others it is less so. It attempts to specify the conditions under which the theory is applicable. It concludes that rational actor theory is more potent when applied to issues of cost rather than benefits or when the goals of participation can be specified in a clear manner & one can measure their degree of attainment. 5 Tables, 27 References. Adapted from the source document.