Gabriel Almond's Opinion Publics
Political scientist Gabriel Almond suggested that there is not just one public opinion, but rather three:
- General public
- Majority of the population
- May have little or no interest in the specifics of an issue or policy matter, or in politics in general.
- Latent attitudes and opinions maybe activated by events
- Attentive public
- Typically a minority of the population
- More interested in politics
- Certain issues may be more salient to them ("issue publics")
- Pay more attention to political news and information
- Mobilized by elites in political appeals
- Policy and opinion elite
- Public officials, journalists and other influential people who are involved in politics
- Influence public opinion by articulating policies to attentive and general publics