Television's Effect On Voter Decline in the U.S.
Three are essentially two opposing views in the debate on how television had affected voter turnout in the United States. One argument holds that television has become a source of a decline in social capital รป that capital created by the social interaction of individuals with one another and in groups; Robert D. Putnam (1995) has advanced this viewpoint, noting that what television has done is to distance individuals from one another, leading to a decline in all forms of social and civic engagement and ultimately disengaging individuals from the political processes by means of which elections are framed, candidates chosen, issues articulated, and campaigns conducted with the ultimate result of electing officials who will govern the nation.
The alternative view in this debate, articulated by Pippa Norris (1996), is that television alone has not been responsible for voter turnout decreases. Other factors, including political scandals, growing voter cynicism and apathy, and issues related to registration and the perceived salience of electoral politics, are seen as combining to reduce general interest in voting. This view, noted Norris (1996), does not exclude the effects of television from this process, but rather suggests that it cannot be held fully accountable for what has become a major trend in American political and civic life.
The purpose of this study is to examine the literature to assess the viability of both positions and to offer new insight into the effects of television itself on voter behavior in the United States. It will be argued that while there is evidence supporting the Putnam (1995) theory regarding television's impact upon the formation of social capital and the necessity of social capital as a foundation for civic engagement (evidenced through voting), it is far too simplistic to assume that television alone has had the effect of distancing potenti...