Introduction

In this chapter and the next, we consider directly the question of empirical warrant. Does the expressive theory of voting developed in the foregoing pages explain what we observe better than does the homo economicus alternative? Does it provide new hypotheses that the data do not reject? Does the alternative view of voting behavior it offers actually fit the facts?

These questions are not so easily answered, partly because the facts that have to be explained are various and are themselves theoretically constructed, partly because homo economicus is a very slippery customer, partly because the expressive theory may often enough map the self-interest account, and partly because it is not entirely clear what the expressive theory predicts. We do not, therefore, see ourselves as unveiling some single millennial event that will constitute final and definitive refutation of the standard interpretation of pseudorational actor political theory, or even some series of events that will conclusively establish the expressive account of voting as a preferred alternative. The picture of confirmation and rejection of theories as a swashbuckling drama of bold conjectures lance to lance with mortal refutations does not strike us as descriptive in fact or even worthy in aspiration.