The overwhelming volume of world events rationalizes political nonparticipation for ordinary citizens.

Evidence

So, if I can’t remember what started World War II or even what happened in Vietnam, how can I understand or remember what’s going on in Poland, in Eastern Europe? OK, the wall is down, so they’re free. So, what does it mean? And Nelson Mandela? I didn’t even know who he was till he was freed. Then I thought, ”Wow, twentyseven years in jail and you’re still alive? That’s pretty good!” But I didn’t even know who he was till he got out. And Forbes’ birthday party? I heard about that five days after it happened. *‘Oh, good, he had a birthday party. Who is he?” There’s just too many things going on in the world to know about all of them. And you know me — I just go to work, come home, and go to sleep. — Nina Eliasoph, Avoiding politics, 1014

Categorization

• SEED: Betsy’s honest inventory names the felt overwhelm that blocks solidarity — an essay on ‘information overload as civic refusal’ could build from her words.
• XREF: connects to: People rationalize political non-involvement through differing accepted explanations. — Nina Eliasoph, “Close to home”: The work of avoiding…, 60; Ordinary citizens act politically only when crisis directly summons them — Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism, 314; The administrative state produces unpolitical citizens within a political society — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 2337

Broader Connections

• Ordinary citizens act politically only when crisis directly summons them #corroborates (0.85) — Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism, 314
• The administrative state produces unpolitical citizens within a political society #complicates (0.75) — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 2337