Political Culture and Ideology From Wilson & DiIulio, 2001; Wood & Schmidt, 2005; and Wright and Barbour, 2006

Political Culture Political culture  broad pattern of ideas, beliefs, and values about citizens and government held by a population (how political and economic life ought to be carried out) Political culture  broad pattern of ideas, beliefs, and values about citizens and government held by a population (how political and economic life ought to be carried out)

Political Culture Includes both economic and political beliefs Includes both economic and political beliefs About public (not private) lives; relationship of individuals to government and the role that the government ought to play About public (not private) lives; relationship of individuals to government and the role that the government ought to play Transmitted by families, schools, communities, literature, religious institutions (political socialization) Transmitted by families, schools, communities, literature, religious institutions (political socialization)

Political Culture Helps to promote political stability in that most citizens buy into the theoretical framework of our nation Helps to promote political stability in that most citizens buy into the theoretical framework of our nation Political subculture  political culture distinguished by region, religion or other characteristics Political subculture  political culture distinguished by region, religion or other characteristics What would southern California’s political subculture be? What would southern California’s political subculture be?

American Political Culture: Influences Enlightenment heritage Enlightenment heritage Constitutional heritage Constitutional heritage Balance between personal liberty and social order (preoccupation with maintaining and asserting rights) Balance between personal liberty and social order (preoccupation with maintaining and asserting rights) Experience during British rule (distrust of political) authority Experience during British rule (distrust of political) authority

American Political Culture: Influences Religion/Religious Diversity Religion/Religious Diversity No official state religion No official state religion Puritan Protestant v. Catholic Puritan Protestant v. Catholic Puritans  work ethic, individualism Puritans  work ethic, individualism Catholics  deference to authority hierarchy Catholics  deference to authority hierarchy Industrial Revolution Industrial Revolution Led to increasing disparities of wealth Led to increasing disparities of wealth Capitalism (wealth based on work, $, not just land) Capitalism (wealth based on work, $, not just land) Free enterprise/limited government Free enterprise/limited government Great Depression  ”support the general welfare” Great Depression  ”support the general welfare”

American Political Culture Alexis de Tocqueville  Democracy in America (1830s) Alexis de Tocqueville  Democracy in America (1830s) Abundant, fertile land Abundant, fertile land Abundant opportunities for people to become landowners Abundant opportunities for people to become landowners Lack of feudalism/entrenched aristocracy Lack of feudalism/entrenched aristocracy Independent spirit Independent spirit

Elements of American Political Culture Liberty  natural right (Locke) Liberty  natural right (Locke) Equality  Declaration of Independence (Jefferson) Equality  Declaration of Independence (Jefferson) Individualism  individuals are responsible for their own well being and that success as a country grounded in an individual’s ability to make own decisions to compete for success (what is good for the individual is good for the country) Individualism  individuals are responsible for their own well being and that success as a country grounded in an individual’s ability to make own decisions to compete for success (what is good for the individual is good for the country)

Elements of American Political Culture Democracy  consent of the governed Democracy  consent of the governed Rule of Law  government based on impartial application of the law (no one is above the law) vs. rule of individual Rule of Law  government based on impartial application of the law (no one is above the law) vs. rule of individual Civic duty  have to the responsibility to be informed citizens and be involved in local affairs Civic duty  have to the responsibility to be informed citizens and be involved in local affairs

American Political Culture (later additions) Emerge in response to the industrial revolution Emerge in response to the industrial revolution Capitalism Capitalism Free Enterprise Free Enterprise 1930s (Roosevelt  New Deal) 1930s (Roosevelt  New Deal) Promotion of the general welfare Promotion of the general welfare Second Bill of Rights  job, food clothing, home, medical care Second Bill of Rights  job, food clothing, home, medical care

Tensions within the System Value of individualism versus equality Value of individualism versus equality During industrial revolution  robber barons'’ rights versus workers’ rights During industrial revolution  robber barons'’ rights versus workers’ rights Health Care Debate Health Care Debate In 1990s, government’s responsibility to provide for the general welfare versus individualism In 1990s, government’s responsibility to provide for the general welfare versus individualism “Government takeover,” “Socialism” “Government takeover,” “Socialism”

Other Values Political Tolerance (Wood & Schmidt, p. 36) Political Tolerance (Wood & Schmidt, p. 36) More tolerant in theory than in practice More tolerant in theory than in practice In general fairly willing to respect first amendment rights of those who don’t agree with us In general fairly willing to respect first amendment rights of those who don’t agree with us However, most Americans dislike another group so much that they are willing to deny some of its rights However, most Americans dislike another group so much that they are willing to deny some of its rights More politically tolerant over time More politically tolerant over time

Other Values Trust in the government Trust in the government Declined significantly since 1960s Declined significantly since 1960s Drop in political efficacy (a citizen’s capacity to understand and influence political events) Drop in political efficacy (a citizen’s capacity to understand and influence political events) internal efficacy  ability to understand and take part in political affairs (steady over past 50 years) internal efficacy  ability to understand and take part in political affairs (steady over past 50 years) external efficacy  belief of the individual that the government is responsive to his/her needs (dropped significantly since 1960s/1970s external efficacy  belief of the individual that the government is responsive to his/her needs (dropped significantly since 1960s/1970s

Other Trends People generally feel that the government is too big to be responsive to individual needs People generally feel that the government is too big to be responsive to individual needs However, Americans have higher external efficacy rates than many Europeans However, Americans have higher external efficacy rates than many Europeans More likely to get involved in politics, but less likely to vote than most Europeans More likely to get involved in politics, but less likely to vote than most Europeans

Other Trends American political culture more consensual than conflictual American political culture more consensual than conflictual However some argue that amount of conflict has increased since 1950s (the culture wars) However some argue that amount of conflict has increased since 1950s (the culture wars) Abortion, gay rights, drug use, school prayer Abortion, gay rights, drug use, school prayer US has unchanging standards and US as force for good in world US has unchanging standards and US as force for good in world Standards for judging the world/others change and there are legitimate alternatives to these standards; US has had negative/neutral impact on world affairs Standards for judging the world/others change and there are legitimate alternatives to these standards; US has had negative/neutral impact on world affairs Does this divide mark a shift in political culture or does this reflect an ideological argument? Does this divide mark a shift in political culture or does this reflect an ideological argument?

Political Culture vs. Political Ideology Political culture  broad pattern of ideas, beliefs, and values about citizens and government held by a population (how political and economic life ought to be carried out) Political culture  broad pattern of ideas, beliefs, and values about citizens and government held by a population (how political and economic life ought to be carried out) Political ideology  sets of beliefs about politics and society that help people make sense of their world (views on policies that the government ought to pursue) Political ideology  sets of beliefs about politics and society that help people make sense of their world (views on policies that the government ought to pursue)

Political Culture vs. Political Ideology Can disagree on ideology, but share similar political cultures Can disagree on ideology, but share similar political cultures The culture is the value system and the ideology is how these values should be lived/carried out The culture is the value system and the ideology is how these values should be lived/carried out Some ideologies don’t fit well within the same political culture (capitalism and communism) Some ideologies don’t fit well within the same political culture (capitalism and communism)

Political Ideology Labels widely used, but most don’t know what they really mean Labels widely used, but most don’t know what they really mean Most Americans are moderate Most Americans are moderate Ideological labels (while sometimes problematic) provide informational short cuts to voters Ideological labels (while sometimes problematic) provide informational short cuts to voters

Liberalism 17 th century Europe 17 th century Europe Jefferson and Jackson Jefferson and Jackson protection of individual rights and liberties protection of individual rights and liberties Small government, laissez faire Small government, laissez faire Depression Depression Idea that government could be a positive force for change; government could ensure equality of opportunity Idea that government could be a positive force for change; government could ensure equality of opportunity

Conservatism Alexander Hamilton/John Adams Alexander Hamilton/John Adams Trustee model  most political decisions should be left up to political leaders; less optimistic about human nature Trustee model  most political decisions should be left up to political leaders; less optimistic about human nature 19 th /20 th Century  emphasis on private property rights and free enterprise 19 th /20 th Century  emphasis on private property rights and free enterprise Opposed New Deal program  human needs should be taken care of by families and charities Opposed New Deal program  human needs should be taken care of by families and charities

Current Spectrum (see Contemporary Political Ideologies Handout) Radical Radical Liberal Liberal Neoliberal Neoliberal Moderate Moderate Conservative Conservative Neoconservative Neoconservative Religious Conservative Religious Conservative Reactionary Reactionary

Potential Problems with Ideological Spectrum People don’t have consistent views People don’t have consistent views Political scientists have identified cross cutting cleavages that make identifying with a pure ideology more difficult Political scientists have identified cross cutting cleavages that make identifying with a pure ideology more difficult Economic Economic Civil Rights Civil Rights Public and political conduct Public and political conduct Libertarians  fiscally conservative, socially liberal Libertarians  fiscally conservative, socially liberal Populists  fiscally liberal, socially conservative Populists  fiscally liberal, socially conservative

Helpful Websites (to see how ideology lines up with current political parties) (to see how ideology lines up with current political parties) (find out what your ideology is) (find out what your ideology is)