Unit 3: Political Beliefs & Behaviors Lecture & Discussion 1: Political Culture & Socialization

Objective To define American Exceptionalism and understand how political socialization impacts public opinion.

Do Now Read Philosophical Differences and respond to the prompt. Compare liberal and conservative philosophies regarding the following matters: Human Nature Tradition & Reform Authority & Individual Freedom

American Exceptionalism “The position of the Americans is therefore quite exceptional, and it may be believed that no democratic people will ever be placed in a similar one.” - Alexis de Tocqueville (1835)

A. What is Political Culture? political culture: a set of shared beliefs, values and norms about how political and economic life ought to be carried out

A. What is Political Culture? “American Way of Life” liberty equality democracy civic duty individual responsibility

A. What is Political Culture? Differing Views on Equality political system: no limits placed on political freedom in society as all are entitled to natural rights and equality before the law economic system: limits placed on freedom in the marketplace as all are entitled to “equality of opportunity” but not “equality of condition or results”

B. Changes in Our Political Culture Growing mistrust among people of government officials to “do the right thing” Declining sense among people in ability and capacity to influence political affairs

B. Changes in Our Political Culture The Culture War expanding divide in peoples beliefs about manners and morality in society orthodox: morality is derived from God or laws of nature and commands are independent of individual preferences and more important than self-expression progressive: morality is an individual matter and personal freedom is more important than traditional moral rules

C. Forming Public Opinion What is public opinion? public opinion refers to views that are prevalent among the general public polls are used to survey public opinion by taking random samples of entire population and accounting for sampling errors (15,000 samplings needed to ensure MOE of plus or minus 3 percent)

C. Forming Public Opinion political socialization: the process by which people form ideas about government and political affairs

C. Forming Public Opinion political socialization parents: most young people’s party identification is influenced by parents

C. Forming Public Opinion political socialization gender gap: difference in political views between men and women is characterized by a greater number of males leaning right as a result of attitudes about size of government, gun control, spending programs aimed at the poor, and gay rights

C. Forming Public Opinion political socialization religion: religious influences on public opinion are most pronounced with respect to social issues

C. Forming Public Opinion political socialization education: attending college has had a liberalizing effect on political attitudes social class: views of “blue-collar” vs. “white-collar” workers differ on economic policy race and ethnicity: the color of one’s skin is in many ways of central importance in shaping public opinion

C. Forming Public Opinion political socialization region: geographic region or where people live affects political attitudes South: “Solid South” has swung from left to right due to growth in conservatism in recent years North: pockets of liberalism, but traditionally conservative due to industrial roots of nation

C. Forming Public Opinion political socialization region: geographic region or where people live affects political attitudes Midwest: conservative due to role of traditional values and being the “breadbasket” of America West: mostly liberal as a result of its history of “westward expansion” and large immigrant populations

C. Forming Public Opinion political ideology: a consistent set of beliefs or philosophies related to government, political affairs, or public policy matters political spectrum: a system that classifies a range of political beliefs or philosophies of an individual or group

One-Dimensional Perspective

C. Forming Public Opinion Categories in Two-Dimensional Spectrum (Personal & Economic Freedom) liberals: tend to believe government should have LESS authority over personal matters and MORE authority over economic matters conservatives: tend to believe government should have MORE authority over personal matters and LESS authority over economic matters

C. Forming Public Opinion Categories in Two-Dimensional Spectrum (Personal & Economic Freedom) libertarians: tend to believe government should have LESS authority over personal matters and LESS authority over economic freedoms populists: tend to believe government should have MORE authority over personal matters and MORE authority over economic matters

Two-Dimensional Perspective http://libertarian.jimeyer.org/