Like Clinton, they appeal to ecologists, women, and the disadvantaged. Also like Clinton, they are adept at using the new media, citizen surveys, focus groups, and high-tech campaign tactics. They understand that in the world of the 24-hour news cycle, issues change quickly, and that citizen groups and media drive the policy process more than traditional political parties. This disconnection between citizens and elected officials has led to decreased voter turnout by an alienated electorate, making it easier for special interest groups and extremists to become more influential. This new politics seeks to be youthful, highly democratic, and responsive to average citizens, but is also volatile, turbulent, media-driven, and often unpredictable.
Leaders rise and fall rapidly.
The data analysis of the New Political Culture is based on original surveys collected from some 7,000 cities in 20 nations. Citizen surveys in these same countries are also used. Political issues shift with increased affluence. As affluence has risen, the number of production workers has decreased and the number of professionals has increased in most of the countries studied. Younger, more educated and more affluent persons in affluent and less hierarchical societies should move farthest from traditional class politics.