Absolute Values and Practical Problems

Abstract

Political values are considered as inherent in human action (contrary to Plato's view of the transcendent reality of values), and as forming opposite contradictory poles for the axiological orientation of decisions (Weberian view of conflicting values). Germane to these postulates, 10 scales are used to assess the values of a sample of 90 local politicians and administrators in France, whose characteristics are correlated with values, as well as contextual variables. Results show inter alia that political values are independent of sex, of income and education, but that some are linked to partisan orientation (Machiavellianism excepted). Most of the values are independent of contextual socioeconomic variables, except that the personal interest of politicians (as opposed to selfless altruism) provokes a specific type of political expression in local election: a high rate of nullified ballots (bulletins nuls).

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