Poznámka k dynamice konceptu cleavages v 21. století – příklad fenoménu digital divide
A Comment to the Cleavage Concept in the 21st century – example of digital divide phenomenon

Summary/Abstract: The article discusses the concept of cleavages in the 21st century. Cleavages are understood as the criteria dividing members of a community or sub-community into groups. The application of the original Lipset & Rokkan cleavage theory on the current socio-political reality can be done only with difficulties, or at the price of considerable simplification (which is the consequence of the defreezing of party systems). Therefore on the basis of the work of Mair and Bartolini, the article looks for the criteria „that makes cleavage a cleavage“. Furthermore, using the example of the digital divide concept, it is shown there are at present latent cleavages in society, but their „strength“ and importance is dependent on their saliency (in connection with political actor behaviour). This leads to the assumption that current cleavages are “dynamic” rather than “static”.

• Details
• Contents