BRINGING STRONG TIES BACK IN INTERPERSONAL GATEWAYS TO POLITICAL INFORMATION AND INFLUENCE

With whom and how frequently do people discuss political matters?A theoretical model is formulated and tested using informationon respondents' core social networks from the 1987 General SocialSurvey. The frequency of political discussions depends uponfactors of demand (personal attributes) and supply (opportunitieswithin social contexts). Educational attainment and age positivelyaffect political discussion frequency, although indirectly throughintervening political orientation and social contexts variables.Demand is positively related to political interest, strong partyattachment, liberal views, and newspaper readership. The findingsunderscore the importance of including close relatives and friends(strong ties) in studying social contexts of political behavior.The opportunity structure (supply of potential discussants)is enhanced by the presence of a spouse and other adult householdmembers, by being in the labor force, and by having close personalrelationships with spatially proximate core associates.