Cross-cutting and reinforcing political cleavages
CLEP American Government, Chapter 34
Cross-cutting and reinforcing political cleavages
A political cleavage is a durable social division that organizes conflict, but several divisions can intersect in very different ways. The important question is whether their boundaries repeatedly coincide or cut across one another.
When income, religion, region, and race place nearly the same groups in opposing camps, the cleavages reinforce one another. When allies on one division separate on another, cross-cutting identities create cross-pressure and new reasons for coalition.
Neither structure determines every person's behavior. Establish the pattern across at least two divisions, compare alignments over time, and remember that changing party coalitions can rearrange the boundaries.
Ask whether group boundaries coincide or intersect. Intersecting boundaries are cross-cutting; cumulative boundaries are reinforcing. Cross-cutting cleavages do not erase group identity or party competition. Their expected effect is to weaken a single all-encompassing line of conflict, not to produce complete consensus.
Video lesson: Political Ideology: Crash Course Government and Politics #35
Related to This Article
More math articles
- The Ultimate 6th Grade LEAP Math Course (+FREE Worksheets)
- How to Overcome Math Anxiety: 10 Proven Strategies
- 7th Grade Common Core Math FREE Sample Practice Questions
- Idaho Algebra 1 Free Worksheets: 72 Free Algebra 1 PDF Worksheets, One Skill at a Time
- FREE 5th Grade OST Math Practice Test
- Iowa Algebra 1 Free Worksheets: Printable Algebra 1 PDF Practice for Every Topic
- The Math Game Show: How to Find Probability of Simple and Opposite Events
- The Best Grade 3 Math Book for California Students
- Delegates
- The Ultimate HiSET Math Formula Cheat Sheet
What people say about "Cross-cutting and reinforcing political cleavages - Effortless Math"?
No one replied yet.