This week's framework reminds me of an episode of Seinfeld (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pledge_Drive). In this episode a new norm (eating a snickers bar with knife and fork instead of using fingers) catches on because it is seen as a signal of sophistication and class. Before you know it, everyone is doing it.
Your explanation of Bicchieri’s framework reminded me of the two lines of thought that Amit Varma has explored on his podcast over the years.
1. The imposition of a relatively liberal Indian constitution on an illiberal society.
2. Andrew Breitbart’s quote: “Politics is the downstream of culture.”
There was a mismatch between the normative expectations that the constitution tried to enforce and the empirical expectations within the society.
As you said: “Norms are largely upheld when both empirical and normative expectations work in the same direction and reinforce each other.”
Also: “If you want an existing norm to be abandoned, a change in empirical expectations should precede a change in normative expectations.” In other words Politics is the downstream of culture. To change politics, one should change the culture.
Over the years, RSS did the work of social change through — changing the factual beliefs + Inventing normative expectations.
Visiting temples, chanting Gods’ names were customs. Customs are a set of independent actions which create a pattern. The ruling party has tried to create norms through these customs. It has tried to add a layer of interdependence to peoples’ otherwise independent motivations. It’s expectations are normative. (“Hindustan mein rehna hai toh Jai Shri Ram kehna hoga.”)
India is going through an incredible social change, thanks to the malleability of independent and interdependent actions.
The ending graph is fantastic. Would be great to see you bring up other examples like the left side driving norm. I am thinking about how breakers of this norm are in effect trailblazers!
This week's framework reminds me of an episode of Seinfeld (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pledge_Drive). In this episode a new norm (eating a snickers bar with knife and fork instead of using fingers) catches on because it is seen as a signal of sophistication and class. Before you know it, everyone is doing it.
Great newsletter as always.
Hi Pranay 🙂
Your explanation of Bicchieri’s framework reminded me of the two lines of thought that Amit Varma has explored on his podcast over the years.
1. The imposition of a relatively liberal Indian constitution on an illiberal society.
2. Andrew Breitbart’s quote: “Politics is the downstream of culture.”
There was a mismatch between the normative expectations that the constitution tried to enforce and the empirical expectations within the society.
As you said: “Norms are largely upheld when both empirical and normative expectations work in the same direction and reinforce each other.”
Also: “If you want an existing norm to be abandoned, a change in empirical expectations should precede a change in normative expectations.” In other words Politics is the downstream of culture. To change politics, one should change the culture.
Over the years, RSS did the work of social change through — changing the factual beliefs + Inventing normative expectations.
Visiting temples, chanting Gods’ names were customs. Customs are a set of independent actions which create a pattern. The ruling party has tried to create norms through these customs. It has tried to add a layer of interdependence to peoples’ otherwise independent motivations. It’s expectations are normative. (“Hindustan mein rehna hai toh Jai Shri Ram kehna hoga.”)
India is going through an incredible social change, thanks to the malleability of independent and interdependent actions.
The ending graph is fantastic. Would be great to see you bring up other examples like the left side driving norm. I am thinking about how breakers of this norm are in effect trailblazers!
No one is asking for apologies, but peacefully handing over the 2 remaining disputed sites would be a good move.