Doctoral Dissertation Research in Political Science

对第三世界国家贫困群体的态度和行为的大多数解释都强调经济因素对政治支持水平的影响。然而，越来越多的证据表明，即使是最贫穷的社会阶层的核心价值观和信仰也是政治态度和行为的关键决定因素。该奖项支持博士论文研究，旨在探索经济条件和基本价值观对发展中国家穷人的政治态度和行为的相对影响。具体地说，该项目调查了尼加拉瓜精心挑选的六个经济群体的政治态度。这些群体的经济地位和脆弱性以及基本价值观和信仰各不相同。因此，通过比较他们的政治支持水平，可以衡量经济状况和个人价值观的相对影响。尼加拉瓜之所以被选为研究地点，是因为该国最近从威权政权向民主政权的过渡，允许受访者被问及他们对这些截然不同的政治制度的态度。这篇论文的研究完成后，应该会扩大我们对许多生活在贫困中或处于贫困边缘的第三世界国家中大部分公众的价值观和行为的理解。如果这一论断是正确的，这项研究应该会为解决这些国家的政治不稳定问题指明新的途径。

Most explanations of the attitudes and behavior of impoverished segments of the public in third world nations emphasize the influence of economic considerations on levels of political support. There is increasing evidence, however, that the core values and beliefs of even the poorest segments of society are critical determinants of political attitudes and behavior. This award supports doctoral dissertation research that seeks to explore the relative effects of economic conditions and basic values on the political attitudes and behavior of the poor in developing nations. Specifically, this project surveys the political attitudes of six carefully selected economic groups in Nicaragua. These groups differ in their economic status and vulnerability as well as in their basic values and beliefs. Thus by comparing their levels of political support the relative effects of economic conditions and personal values can be measured. Nicaragua is chosen as the site for the study because its recent transition from an authoritarian to democratic regime allows respondents to be asked about their attitudes toward these very different political systems. When completed this dissertation research should expand our understanding of the values and behavior of those large segments of the public in many third world nations that live in or on the edge of poverty. If the thesis is correct, the research should point the way to new approaches to dealing with problems of political instability in these nations.