Rational Theory Flashcards
Define Rational Theory
Theorises how individuals behave to maximise their own best interests
These aims may be winning or maintaining power within a political system or attempting to achieve ideological or policy goals. This approach is most useful when applied to a comparison of individuals within political systems such as presidents, prime ministers (PM) ministers , legislative politicians and voters.
Analyse Rational Theory
so it might be thought of as the ‘selfish’ model or consumer model. By acting rationally, individuals judge how best to achieve their aims.
Evaluate/ Critique Rational theory
That said, this approach is not without its critics, particularly in understanding voting, who believe that it overestimates human rationality- think of the shopper again and we know that we all make emotional choices and buy things we don’t need. The rational choice model also ignores the difficulty of the ordinary individual gaining the accurate information required to make such ‘rational’ choices. It’s hard to view voting for Trump as simply ‘rational’
Example of rational theory ( UK+ USA) - Voters
The rational approach might explain that US voters are more likely to pursue their own rational self-interest than UK voters since the separation of powers means Congress members, being less controlled by party and government are able to use legislation to benefit their constituents though ‘Pork’ and ‘earmarks’. It make rational sense for voters in the USA vote for incumbent politicians sine they are most likely to provide or have provided Pork.
Example of rational theory (UK+USA)
Both the president and prime minister have considerable authority as leaders of the government to set a political agenda for the country, based on their personal views or self interest. They also have power, particularly within the executive, to appoint people to key decision-making positions. It was probably self interest which motivated Theresa May to appoint Boris Johnson to her cabinet. President Johnson LBJ famously observed that it was better to have a rival ‘ In the tent pissing out, rather than, out of the tent pissing in’.
Example - Reagan 1980 are you better off and its rational approach
Politicians know that this is true of voters, at least to some extent. so when Ronald Reagan in his televised debate with President Jimmy Carter in 1980 posed the question to voters, ‘Are you better off than you were four years ago?’ he was appealing to their rationality and self interest. This view sees the voter as a savvy consumer who is shopping for the best party, policy or politician.
Rationality with MPs + members of Congress
Congressman and a Member of Parliament (MP), both might vote in Congress or in Parliament, acting rationally to maintain their own position of power. They will have rational considerations of getting re-elected, but the MP may be more motivated by the possibility of promotion up the ‘greasy pole’. They might resist structural and cultural factors. Members of Congress and Parliament might ignore executive patronage-power or the dominant view of their party because they are trying to maintain their own chances of re-election by pleasing constituents or visa versa they might ignore their constituents in the interest of their own career in the party or government.
