The Logic of American Politics

Front

What is the fundamental problem of governance?

Back

Reconciling preferences.

Front

What is politics?

Back

The process through which individuals and groups reach agreement on a course of common, or collective, action—even as they disagree on the intended goals of that action.

Front

What are the two key questions addressed in the course?

Back

1. What good is politics in helping people solve their problems? 2. Do institutions matter, and if yes, how?

Front

What is the result of unstructured negotiations?

Back

They rarely lead to acceptable results for all parties and are complicated by an increased number of participants and complexity and divisiveness of issues.

Front

What is the solution to unstructured negotiations?

Back

Create structured negotiations through the design of political institutions (rules and procedures).

Front

What are the two classes of challenges to collective action?

Back

1. Coordination 2. The Prisoner’s Dilemma

Front

What increases coordination problems?

Back

Group size (more people = more problems).

Front

What is a solution to coordination problems?

Back

Delegate to a leader or create simple, self-enforcing rules.

Front

What is the Prisoner’s Dilemma?

Back

A situation where individuals, who would benefit from cooperating, have an incentive to break the agreement and exploit the other side.

Front

How can the Prisoner’s Dilemma be solved?

Back

Make reneging and defection very expensive and create institutions that guarantee agreements are honored.