1. Voting Behaviour: A Sociological Perspective
Beyond Rational Choice to Social Expression
DefinitionVoting Behaviour: The study of how and why people tend to vote in public elections and the reasons why they vote as they do - Plano and Riggs
Key Insight:
Voting is not merely a political act - it is a form of social behaviour shaped by group identities, socialisation processes, power relations, collective emotions, and historical experience. Sociology approaches voting not as an individual rational calculation, but as the expression of social location, group solidarity, and collective political consciousness.
Key Sociological Insight:
Man is rational philosophically, but socially and politically irrational. Voting in India reveals this tension most vividly - formal democratic procedure coexisting with deeply embedded social cleavages.
Six Functions of Voting - Rose and Massavir:
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In these notes
- Voting Behaviour: A Sociological Perspective
- Columbia School: Social Determinism
- Michigan School: Party Identification
- Rational Choice and Institutional Approaches
- Four Theoretical Approaches Compared
- Foundational Thinkers and Their Contributions
- Foundational Indian Thinkers on Voting
- Contemporary Indian Thinkers
- Caste: The Most Powerful Determinant
- Religion, Charisma and Regionalism as Determinants
- Language, Economic Performance and Money Power
- Economic Voting vs Social Voting in India
- The Second Democratic Upsurge and Changing Participation
- Q: Define Voting Behaviour and Discuss Its Sociological Significance with Reference to Determinants of Voting in India
- Q: 'Electoral Behaviour of Voters is Governed More by Social and Economic Factors than Political Factors.' Critically Examine.
- Quick Revision Summary
- How to Write Answers on Voting Behaviour
- Expected Questions for OPSC/UPSC
- Complete Summary