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1/9 - Federalism

Political scientists interest in studying how states adopt new ideas came about in response to a need to understand how they can further political changes and developments. They also came to the conclusion that their findings would also validate if there is even a need to initiate certain programs in the first place. It is almost shocking that for the federal principle of our government, their number one argument in the 1950’s was actually, “the other states had adopted it.” With that in mind it is understandable how patterns of diffusion can sort of be seen as a tree, spreading out its branches to nearby states and continues to spread.

Just because something is passed in a nearby state doesn’t, or shouldn’t, automatically mean it has value. But of course it comes back to power. The larger cities are able to move faster due to bigger populations. They also have more influence due to factors such as more wealth, being more “urban”, more industrial, fluidity, and turnover in their political systems. Things commonly studies when looking at diffusion are welfare, health education, conservation, planning, administrative organization, highways, civil rights, corrections, police, labor, taxes, and professional regulation.

This quote stating new ideas are accepted based off of the “popular” states or cities accepting it stuck out to me. We as a population may sometimes be very closed minded, or maybe just ignorant on certain topics. When new ideas, or regulations are proposed and accepted, they are more so seen as innovative. Just because something is new to us, doesn’t mean it is new. The idea came from somewhere, and my question is who is someone from elsewhere to dictate what works for where I’m from? As political scientists learn new methods in investigating innovation patterns of diffusion, lets keep our eyes peeled.

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