Political CulturePolitical Culture

Warm UpWarm Up

Reading on podiumReading on podium Which position do you find more Which position do you find more

persuasive? Why?persuasive? Why? How does this tie in with our political How does this tie in with our political

culture?culture?

Political CulturePolitical Culture

Culture vs. IdeologyCulture vs. Ideology Culture – a distinctive and patterned Culture – a distinctive and patterned

way of thinking about how political way of thinking about how political and economic life ought to be carried and economic life ought to be carried out out

Ideology – more or less consistent set Ideology – more or less consistent set of views concerning policies gov’t of views concerning policies gov’t should pursueshould pursue

The Political SystemThe Political SystemCore ValuesCore Values

1. Liberty – do what you want as long as you do 1. Liberty – do what you want as long as you do not hurt other peoplenot hurt other people Must look at others definition of libertyMust look at others definition of liberty 9/119/11

2. Equality – “one person, one vote”2. Equality – “one person, one vote” 3. Democracy – gov’t officials accountable to 3. Democracy – gov’t officials accountable to

othersothers 4. Civic duty – help out4. Civic duty – help out 5. Individual responsibility – individuals 5. Individual responsibility – individuals

responsible for own actions and well-beingresponsible for own actions and well-being 6. Rule of Law – the belief that gov't is based on a 6. Rule of Law – the belief that gov't is based on a

body of law applied equally, impartially, and justly body of law applied equally, impartially, and justly

Three QuestionsThree Questions

1. How do we know that the 1. How do we know that the American people share these beliefs?American people share these beliefs? A. Books readA. Books read B. Speeches heardB. Speeches heard C. Slogans to which they respondC. Slogans to which they respond D. Political choicesD. Political choices E. Observations by foreignersE. Observations by foreigners F. Personality testsF. Personality tests G. Opinion pollsG. Opinion polls

Three QuestionsThree Questions

2. If these values are important to 2. If these values are important to Americans, how can we explain the Americans, how can we explain the existence in our society of behavior that is existence in our society of behavior that is obviously inconsistent with them?obviously inconsistent with them? A. Everyday fact that people act contrary to A. Everyday fact that people act contrary to

their beliefstheir beliefs B. People are also shaped by self-interest and B. People are also shaped by self-interest and

social circumstancessocial circumstances C. The creed remains important b/c it can be a C. The creed remains important b/c it can be a

source of change – as people recognize the source of change – as people recognize the discrepancy between creed and behaviordiscrepancy between creed and behavior

Three QuestionsThree Questions

3. If there is agreement among 3. If there is agreement among Americans on certain political values, Americans on certain political values, why has there been so much political why has there been so much political conflict in our history?conflict in our history? A. Conflict can occur over specific A. Conflict can occur over specific

policiespolicies

The Economic SystemThe Economic System

Many of the same standards as the political Many of the same standards as the political system, but some differencessystem, but some differences 1. Liberty – free enterprise economic system1. Liberty – free enterprise economic system

Limits – tax, regulatory, monetary, and spending Limits – tax, regulatory, monetary, and spending policiespolicies

2. Emphasis on “equality of opportunity”2. Emphasis on “equality of opportunity” 3. Disagreement over preferential hiring, etc.3. Disagreement over preferential hiring, etc. 4. “Truly in need” vs. “able to take care of 4. “Truly in need” vs. “able to take care of

themselves”themselves” 5. Economic individualism and personal 5. Economic individualism and personal

responsibilityresponsibility 6. Ethic of self-reliance – thus, disagreement 6. Ethic of self-reliance – thus, disagreement

over welfareover welfare

Comparing the U.S. with Other Comparing the U.S. with Other NationsNations

1. Sweden1. Sweden A. Political systemA. Political system

Vote but do little elseVote but do little else Tend to defer to “experts”Tend to defer to “experts”

B. Economic SystemB. Economic System Favor equality of results over equality of opportunityFavor equality of results over equality of opportunity Tables 4.3 and 4.4 (84)Tables 4.3 and 4.4 (84)

2. Japan2. Japan A. Tend to be group orientedA. Tend to be group oriented B. HierarchicalB. Hierarchical

3. U.S.3. U.S. A. IndividualismA. Individualism B. A strong sense of civil competence (can make a B. A strong sense of civil competence (can make a

difference)difference)

Comparing the U.S. with Other Comparing the U.S. with Other NationsNations

4. The Role of Religion4. The Role of Religion A. U.S. has been one of the most religious A. U.S. has been one of the most religious

countries in the worldcountries in the world B. Attracted to religion as much for its civic as B. Attracted to religion as much for its civic as

for its spiritual significance for its spiritual significance C. Candidates for national office regularly talk C. Candidates for national office regularly talk

religionreligion Tables 4.7 and 4.8Tables 4.7 and 4.8

The Sources of Political CultureThe Sources of Political Culture 1. Origins of the U.S. – preoccupations with1. Origins of the U.S. – preoccupations with

A. LibertyA. Liberty B. rightsB. rights C. original sin – therefore, no one could be trusted with powerC. original sin – therefore, no one could be trusted with power

2. 18002. 1800 Led to participationLed to participation

3. religious diversity – guaranteed by the Constitution3. religious diversity – guaranteed by the Constitution A. Was dominant religious traditionA. Was dominant religious tradition

4. socialization process – esp. family but evidence 4. socialization process – esp. family but evidence that this is weakeningthat this is weakening

5. Combined effect of religious and ethnic diversity, 5. Combined effect of religious and ethnic diversity, an individualistic philosophy, fragmented political an individualistic philosophy, fragmented political authority, and the relatively egalitarian American authority, and the relatively egalitarian American family produce a general absence of class family produce a general absence of class consciousness = most people in the U.S. think of consciousness = most people in the U.S. think of themselves as middle classthemselves as middle class

The Sources of Political CultureThe Sources of Political Culture

6.The U.S. is the only large industrial 6.The U.S. is the only large industrial democracy without a significant socialist party democracy without a significant socialist party and has been generally slow to adopt certain and has been generally slow to adopt certain welfare programswelfare programs

7. The Culture War7. The Culture War Culture classes clashing on political issuesCulture classes clashing on political issues

A. AbortionA. Abortion B. Gay rights B. Gay rights C. Drug useC. Drug use D. School prayerD. School prayer E. TerrorismE. Terrorism F. U.S. role in world affairsF. U.S. role in world affairs

Mistrust of GovernmentMistrust of Government 1. Centers more around officials, not the system1. Centers more around officials, not the system 2. Reasons for decline2. Reasons for decline

A. VietnamA. Vietnam B. Civil Rights disputesB. Civil Rights disputes C. NixonC. Nixon D. Clinton impeachmentD. Clinton impeachment

3. Alternative view3. Alternative view A. 1950s – expected little out of gov'tA. 1950s – expected little out of gov't B. 1960s and 70s changedB. 1960s and 70s changed C. Difficult problems to solveC. Difficult problems to solve D. Patriotism sufferedD. Patriotism suffered E. 9/11 euphoria – Did it last?E. 9/11 euphoria – Did it last?

7/01 – 29% trusted fed gov’t to do what is right7/01 – 29% trusted fed gov’t to do what is right 10/01 – up to 57%10/01 – up to 57% 5/02 – down to 40%; 57% saying trusted Washington 5/02 – down to 40%; 57% saying trusted Washington

so of time or neverso of time or never

Political EfficacyPolitical Efficacy

Drop in political efficacyDrop in political efficacy Internal efficacy – ability to Internal efficacy – ability to

understand and take part in political understand and take part in political affairsaffairs

External efficacy – ability to make External efficacy – ability to make the system respond to the citizenrythe system respond to the citizenry

Still higher than EuropeansStill higher than Europeans

Political TolerancePolitical Tolerance Points to considerPoints to consider

1. one person’s civic intolerance is another person’s 1. one person’s civic intolerance is another person’s passion, but in general people do agree that a decline in passion, but in general people do agree that a decline in moral values is a major source of harm for societymoral values is a major source of harm for society

2. are willing to allow people to do things which we 2. are willing to allow people to do things which we disagreedisagree

3. have become more tolerant, in general3. have become more tolerant, in general ButBut

1. there is some group whose rights we would support 1. there is some group whose rights we would support limiting/denying limiting/denying

2. we frequently do not act on our beliefs2. we frequently do not act on our beliefs 3. we cannot agree on which group should have its 3. we cannot agree on which group should have its

rights deniedrights denied 4. courts are generally insulated enough to enforce 4. courts are generally insulated enough to enforce

constitutional protections, in spite of the opinions of constitutional protections, in spite of the opinions of some groupssome groups