Dill, Susan, Vandivere Leslie, & White Shirley; Politics of fear, Mar 01 2006
Fear is a pervasive part of everyday life. We buckle seat-belts, lock doors, get physicals, and stop at red lights. Listening to or reading the news, one could
conclude that the country, the world, is full of calamities and "listener beware!" Well-meaning interest groups want their message out: [....]
Interest groups compete for attention and money in order to promote
their causes.
Politicians are no different. [...]
The use of fear to control behavior has been a recognized political tool since the publication of Thomas Hobbes' The Leviathan in l7th century England.
[... ... ... ...]
Only a positive, deliberative approach can
effectively respond to the emotional panic created by the politics of fear.