Ideological Thinking Among Party Activists

Abstract

In this article, findings are discussed from a sequence of eight surveys of Los Angeles activists, made between 1963 and 1980, from a multi-tier survey of Munich activists in 1965, and from a multi-locale survey of candidates, translocal activists, and local party workers in India in 1967. Different patterns of ideological thinking among activists are identified, the stability of ideological self-ratings over time is measured, the link between ideological stance and views on policy issues is explored, and the implications of feeling "at odds" ideologically with others in one's non-political daily life as well as with fellow party activists and rival party workers are examined.