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Political Culture in America • Definition – distinctive and patterned way of thinking about how political and economic life should be carried out – Economics are part of it because politics affect economics • Americans believe in political equality, but not economic equality • 5 elements to Americas view of the political system: – – – – – Liberty Equality Democracy Civic duty Individual responsibility • Most believe that all citizens should have an equal chance to influence gov’t policy or hold office • Three questions about political culture: – 1. How do we know we share these beliefs? • Look at the books we read, speeches we hear, political choices we make, polls, etc. – 2. If these values are important how can we explain that there is behavior that is inconsistent with them? • Fact – we often act contrary to our beliefs • example – we believe in honesty, but lie on taxes • Self-interest and social circumstances affect our behavior • Behavior slowly changes – 3. If there are agreements among us on certain political values, why has there been such conflict in our history? • Conflict can occur over specific policies among those who share common beliefs • Much of our conflict occurred because we have strong beliefs that are in conflict with each other • Example: equal opportunity seems attractive, but sometimes it can be pursued only by limiting personal liberty (another good quality) • Civil war was partly fought over that – rights of slaves v. rights of slaveowners Economic System in America • Liberty is important in our economics also • We believe in a free-enterprise system – We believe it is fair and does not survive by keeping down the poor • There are limits, however, to how much freedom should exist in the marketplace • Most people support gov’t regulation of business to keep them from becoming too powerful and to correct certain problems (like pollution) • We believe in “equality of opportunity” but not “equality of results” • In other words; if we all have the same opportunities, it is okay for those with more ability and who work harder to earn more • Liberal political groups are more willing to support preferential treatment in hiring and promoting minorities and women – They believe the failures they face are the fault of the economic system rather than personal faults – But they still believe wages should be based on ability and don’t have a top limit on wages • Polls show that we are willing to help people “truly in need” (old and disabled), but not those that can “take care of themselves” • Today, more Americans believe the government should help the needy and regulate business Political Culture in Other Nations • Political system: – Sweden: good democracy, constitution, free speech, elected legislature, voting, etc. • However, most leave everything up to the government and rarely challenge their decisions – Americans are contentious – Swedes like harmony • Japan values the following: – – – – – – – Getting along with colleagues Group decisions Social harmony Respect for hierarchy Stress being sensitive to the personal needs of others Avoid conflict US and Japan very different even though they are both capitalist and industrialized • Americans have a stronger sense of civic duty and civic competence – Most believe people should be active in their community – Most believe people should “do something” about laws or regulations that are unjust • However, we are behind many other nations in voting • The Economic System: – Sweden more likely to give workers equal pay – Also putting a top limit on incomes – Most Americans don’t believe that the gov’t should guarantee citizens a basic standard of living Religion & Politics • Always been closely linked in America • Both liberals and conservatives have used it to promote change – – – – Great Awakening 1730’s-1740’s Civil Rights Mov’t 1950’s-1960’s Moral Majority 1980’s Christian Coalition 1990’s • Most candidates for national office in other democracies don’t mention religion – not US • 80% of Americans support gov’t funding for faith based social programs • Will probably shape our political culture for many future generation The Culture War • A lot of cultural conflict exists in politics • Two cultural classes locked in a war over values: – – – – Pro-abortion vs. anti-abortion Pro-gay rights vs. anti-gay rights Do legalize drugs vs. don’t legalize drugs School prayer vs. no school prayer • Often these disputes are worse than that over taxes, foreign policy, etc. – Compromises are almost impossible • The two opposing views: – 1. Orthodox: • Believe that morality is as important or more important than self expression • Morals come from God • Most conspicuous are the fundamentalist Protestants and evangelical Christians (the Religious Right) • However, most are just people who have strong moral views – 2. Progressive • Those who believe personal freedom is as important or more important than certain traditional morals • Those morals must be evaluated in lights of the circumstances of modern life • Most conspicuous are the liberal Protestant denominations like Episcopalians and Unitarians and people with no strong religious beliefs • Many denounce them as immoral, anti-Christian radicals • However, most are NOT immoral or anti-Christian Political Efficacy • Big decline in the extent to which citizens feel the political system will respond to their needs and beliefs • This a political efficacy = a citizen’s capacity to understand and influence political events. – Two parts: • 1. internal efficacy = the ability to understand and take part in political affairs – This hasn’t changed much • 2. external efficacy = the ability to make the system respond to the citizenry • Since the mid-1960’s there has been a big drop • Many believe the gov’t has become to large for it to be sensitive to citizens preferences Political Tolerance • Public opinion surveys show that an overwhelming majority of Americans agree with concepts like freedom of speech, majority rule, right to circulate petitions – in broad terms • However, when we break it down, many Americans are not tolerant of groups they dislike • Which of the following would you NOT want to have a meeting: – – – – – – 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Protestants holding a revival meeting Right –to-life groups opposing abortion People protesting a nuclear power plant. Gays organizing a homosexual rights protest Atheists preaching against God. The KKK marching through a town square The map shows 2004 presidential race, the Republican counties in Red, and the Democratic counties in Blue. Most of rural America voted Republican, while urban areas tended to vote Democratic. Republicans tend to be more conservative with traditional religious values than Democratic voters who lean toward more liberal ideas. Political Socialization • Is the process by which citizens acquire a sense of political identity • It begins in childhood and continues throughout life • People are exposed to a combination of influences that shape their political identities and opinions: – Family and home influences (stronger when both parents are the same political party) – Schools teach patriotism and basic gov’t – Group affiliations provide common bonds – Demographic factors – Mass media – Opinion leaders – Events that instill positive or negative attitudes Public Opinion • Collection of shared attitudes of many different people – – – – Shaped by political culture and political socialization Can be analyzed according to distribution (graphs) Also by intensity And stability (how much opinions change over time) • Best way to measure public opinion is by a poll – Businesses, governments, candidates, and interest groups use them – Early polls in US were straw polls – asking the same question of many people • Unreliable because they didn’t often include a cross section of the general population • Modern polling began in the 1930’s • George Gallup helped develop a scientific polling process that includes: – Sampling – participants must be a good cross section and random – Preparing valid questions – don’t lead the respondent – Controlling how the poll is taken – make sure they have some knowledge of issues – phone, mail, in person – Analyzing and reporting results Ideology • An ideology is a consistent set of beliefs • A political ideology is a set of beliefs about politics and policy – Can change over time – Differences usually occur in the areas of political, economic and social issues • Types of ideology: – Radical – wants rapid, fundamental change, might resort to extreme measures, violence or revolution – Liberal – wants active government in promoting welfare, civil rights, accepts peaceful political and social change – Moderate – falls between liberal and conservative and may include some of both, usually tolerant of others’ opinions – Conservative – wants limited gov’t in helping individuals, traditional values and lifestyle, national security, cautious changes – Reactionary – wants a return to previous state of affairs, may be willing to go to extremes