Hobbyhorses In opposition to passive politics.

Hobbyhorses In opposition to passive politics.

  • Words Kyla Marshell
  • Artwork Lea Colie Wight

In his new book, Politics Is for Power, Tufts University professor Eitan Hersh makes a provocative argument: Watching cable news, obsessing over the latest scandal—even voting only in presidential elections—is political hobbyism. Instead of engaging with politics as a civic duty, or as a means to change our communities, he says, we treat it like a sport—tune in, do little, rinse, repeat. Here, Hersh offers some ideas on how to break out of passive politics, and spring into action.

Instead of thinking of politics like a hobby or a sport, how should we think of it?
When I think about people doing politics, I think about people working with other people on goals or strategies to influence the government. Maybe they want to get some of their neighbors to vote a certain way or they wan...

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