What if the way we engage in politics today works against the changes we seek?

One-third of Americans say they spend at least two hours a day on politics. But according to Eitan Hersh, author of the book, Politics is for Power: How to Move beyond Political Hobbyism, Take Action, and Make Real Change, most of that time is spent consuming news, posting to social media, and signing online petitions.

Eitan labels these kinds of isolated, predominantly online behaviors "political hobbyism," and he contrasts them with the kinds of activities that can drive real change. He explains that politics "...is about getting power for the things you care about, working with others, having goals, having strategies, and that's just not what's going on for most people who are cognitively engaged in politics."

Eitan's book is a primer for anyone who wants to effect political change. In it, he shares inspiring stories of ordinary people working to change the world through everyday political participation.

He also shares steps he's taken to overcome his own political hobbyism and the empathy he has for others like him. He says, "They start thinking of all the excuses in their head for why they shouldn't do things differently: 'I don't have time.' 'I'm not very ideological.' Or whatever their excuses are. Hey, I know those excuses -- those are mine! Here's how I kind of got past them."

Eitan Hersh is an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science and at the Tisch College of Civic Life at Tufts University. He researches and teaches on the topics of civic participation, U.S. elections, and voting rights.

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Episode Links

@eitanhersh

Political Hobbyism: A Theory of Mass Behavior by Eitan D. Hersh

We All Really Need to Do Hard Things - the story of Lisa Mann - by Eitan Hersh

Changing the Conversation Together (CTC) a deep canvassing organization

7 Questions with Dave Fleischer on Deep Canvassing

Lilliana Mason

You're More Powerful Than You Think by Eric Liu

Angela Aldous story as discussed in Power, Friendship, and Some Democratic Rules by Russell Arben Fox

CM 161: Eitan Hersh On Making Real Change

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