A Level Sociology OCR Practice Exam

How did political information travel in the past according to Castells?

1. From the many to the few

2. From the few to the many

3. Through citizen journalism

4. Via social networks

The correct answer is: From the few to the many

The correct answer highlights the traditional flow of political information as being from a concentrated group of sources—often elite or authoritative figures—to the broader public. This reflects a historical context where information dissemination was largely controlled by institutions such as the government, media corporations, and other powerful entities. In this framework, the few are typically those who hold power or influence, such as politicians, journalists, and media syndicates, while the many refers to the general population who consume this information. This one-directional model indicates that information was not easily accessible or participatory; rather, it followed a top-down approach. The other options suggest alternate methods of information flow or new mechanisms of engagement, such as citizen journalism and social networks, which are more relevant to contemporary discussions about information exchange in the digital age rather than the historical context that Castells addresses when discussing traditional political information channels.