This negative aspect of civic engagement is a result of the composition of the activists and leaders who are participating in political organizations and government. Through a rational choice framework, Fiorina suggests that parties are the problem and the personal incentives are absent in the pursuit for civic engagement today. In order to prove his theory concerning civic engagement, Fiorina sought to disprove the two prominent theories used by scholars to explain why Americans are disengaged. The first theory is participatory strain. This theory acknowledges that the buffer between institutions and citizens has been stripped away.
People are more exposed to congressional procedures and judicial hearings.
Other changes in America that have added to the participatory strain include the process for presidential nomination, candidate-centered politics, open meetings, recorded votes, enhanced judicial review, and maximum feasible participation. The basic irony of this entire theory is that evidence indicates that Americans approved of government more when there were party bosses and less access to government officials and their daily business. In addition to the participatory strain, Fiorina cited the theory concerning the strengthening of political parties. Contrary to scholars who would suggest that parties are a grass-roots and national method for motivating and organizing people, Fiorina argues that political parties are a part of the problem and not the answer to solving America s civic disengagement. Once again, to prove his theory relating to the engagement of Americans today, Fiorina dismisses both the participatory strain theory and the political party theory as wrong.