POLITICAL CULTURE Paradox: diversity and unity Ethnic and religious heterogeneity Relative homegeneity of political beliefs (Samuel Huntington and others have said)

What is the American political culture What is the American political culture?/set of values widely shared by American citizens? 1. Liberty (freedom – see first amendment: freedom speech, religion, assembly) – freedom “from” 2. Egalitarianism (Declaration of Independence – “all men created equal”, but equality of opportunity not outcome

3. Individualism – related to #1 (liberty) – individuals should be free to get ahead on their own, aversion to control by government (distrust of government, particularly central government) 4. Laissez faire (both in government and in markets – leave citizens and businesses alone)

5. Populism – “government of, for, by the people – (Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, also Pat Buchanan, Ronald Reagan – “get government off the backs of the people”

Elements of American political culture – What makes us Americans? Individuals have rights Individuals are equal under law Gov’t must be limited to protect rights State as instrument for serving individuals Rule of Law/Constitutionalism Joining Faith (despite separation of church & state)

Consensus theory: Americans share a consensus on basic political beliefs DeTocqueville (French – 1830s) – social and political equality Louis Hartz (American – 1950s) – the dark side of the ‘liberal consensus’ –dangers of unanimity of political thought

Critique of Unified political culture/consensus theory 1. Alternative philosophies/beliefs (e.g. socialism, communism) 2. Inegalitarian beliefs – white supremacism, etc. 3. Different cultures within American states, regions – Daniel Elazar (1970s): Traditionalist, Moralist, and individualist cultures

Defense of unified, coherent political culture Compare political beliefs of American citizens to beliefs of citizens from other nations This shows there is a clear commonality of beliefs that distinguishes us from other nations, including other advanced industrial democracies

U.S. 29% Australia 44% West Germany 61% U.K. 64% Netherlands 65% Percentage who agree: “Government should provide everyone with a guaranteed basic income.” U.S. 29% Australia 44% West Germany 61% U.K. 64% Netherlands 65% Italy 81% Percentage who agree: “Government should provide everyone with a guaranteed basic income.”

Percent who agree that “government should provide a decent standard of living for the unemployed” U.S. 21% Australia 38% Netherlands 50% U.K. 65% West Germany 66% Italy 68% Percent who agree: “Government should provide a decent standard of living for the unemployed.”

U.S. 72% Australia 61% Italy 45% Germany 40% Britain 37% Percent who agree “The way things are in my country, people like me and my family have a good chance of improving our standard of living.” U.S. 72% Australia 61% Italy 45% Germany 40% Britain 37% Percent who agree “The way things are in my country, people like me and my family have a good chance of improving our standard of living.”

Sources of liberal political culture Political socialization Self selection of immigrants Institutions create culture (Government designed by Founding Fathers to be inefficient - this makes people distrust government. Government not as “generous” here as in some other countries – people have to make it more on their own – fosters individualism.