American Political Culture

Administrative Matters SI Hours Seating Chart Statement of Student Responsibility Papers Due Thursday Book on Reserve

What Is “Political Culture”? “Collection of beliefs and values about the justification and operation of a country’s government”

Populism Popular Sovereignty Equality  Majority Rule

Liberalism Popular Sovereignty Equality LIBERTY  Majority Rule w/ caveats

Populism v. Liberalism Populism Unfettered majority rule Liberalism Majority rule the norm BUT fear of majority tyranny requires some limits

Why classical liberalism? “Founding fathers” middle class Fleeing oppression Seeking economic opportunity Little common heritage / great diversity Economic opportunity plentiful Lots of land!

Implications of classical liberalism Liberal democracy What does that look like? “American dream” Capitalism Religiosity

How Has Liberalism Persisted? Socialization Diversity/Self-Selection Feedback Loop

All Liberalism, All the Time? No! Populism Civic Republicanism (Communitarianism)

Values to Ideology Values reflect general world-view, implications beyond the political Ideology is a cohesive set of beliefs about the role of government

Shared Political Culture  Shared Ideology Political Culture: Shared Roots Modern Liberalism Conservatism StatismLibertarianism

Example: Equality All Americans tend to value equality, but... Do we mean equality of opportunity or equality of outcome? Is equality measured by individuals or by groups? Is equality more important than liberty, or vice versa? When can government interfere w/ liberty to promote equality?