Cities and towns; Social psychology; Sociology; Sociology, Urban
The conception of “primitive society” which we ought to form is that
of small groups scattered over a territory. The size of the groups is
determined by the conditions of the struggle for existence. The
internal organization of each group corresponds to its size. A group
of groups may have some relation to each other (kin, neighborhood,
alliance, _connubium_, and _commercium_) which draws them together and
differentiates them from others. Thus a differentiation arises between
ourselves, the we-group or in-group, and everybody else or the
others-groups, out-groups. The insiders in a we-group are in a
relation of peace, order, law, government, and industry, to each
other. Their relation to all outsiders, or others-groups, is one of
war and plunder, except so far as agreements have modified it.
The relation of comradeship and peace in the we-group and that of
hostility and war toward others-groups are correlative to each other.
The exigencies of war with outsiders are what make peace inside, lest
internal discord should weaken the we-group for war. These exigencies
also make government and law in the in-group, in order to prevent
quarrels and enforce discipline.[17]
The politics of most great cities offer abundant materials for the study
of the type represented by the political boss, as well as the social
mechanisms created by and embodied in the political machine. It is
necessary, however, that we study them disinterestedly. Some of the
questions we should seek to answer are:
What, as a matter of fact, is the political organization at any point
within the city? What are the sentiments and attitudes and interests
which find expression through it?
What are the practical devices it employs for mobilizing its forces
and putting them into action?
What is the character of the party appeal in the different moral
regions of which the city is made up?
How much of the interest in politics is practical and how much is mere
sport?
What part of the cost of elections is advertising? How much of it can
be classed as “educational publicity,” and how much is pure graft?
To what extent, under existing conditions, particularly as we find
them in great cities, can elections be practically controlled by
purely technical devices, card catalogues, torch-light processions,
spell binders—machinery?
What effect will the introduction of the referendum and recall have
upon present methods of conducting elections in cities?
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