Chapter 4 Political Culture and Ideology Copyright 2006 Prentice Hall

Political Culture: widely shared beliefs and values (natural rights, liberty, equality/equal opportunity, individualism, respect for the common person, justice, patriotism..) Ideology: a consistent pattern of beliefs about political values and the role of government. Examples: liberalism, conservatism, socialism, libertarianism Copyright 2006 Prentice Hall

Respect for the Common Person Justice and the Rule of Law Shared Values Equality Liberty Individualism Respect for the Common Person Democratic Consensus Justice and the Rule of Law Patriotism Optimism and Idealism Copyright 2006 Prentice Hall

Agree or Disagree ? According to Samuel Huntington, Mexicans are not assimilating into the American Political Culture/core American values… Let’s talk local: WBCA Another group that is being chastised by Huntington are the Muslims. Copyright 2006 Prentice Hall

How Americans Learn About Politics: Political Socialization “…the process through which and individual acquires [their] particular political orientation” The Process of Political Socialization The Family Time & emotional commitment Political leanings of children often mirror their parent’s leanings

Where We Learn the American Political Culture Family Schools Number of times a week American families say that they eat together Schools teach an idealized view of the nation’s slogans and symbols Copyright 2006 Prentice Hall

How Americans Learn About Politics: Political Socialization The Process of Political Socialization The Mass Media Generation gap in TV news viewing School / Education Used by government to socialize the young into the culture and they have better jobs and a more positive view of government Political Learning Over a Lifetime

Where We Learn the American Political Culture Peers and Community Research shows that in heterogeneous communities, political participation tends to be higher, with more contested and competitive elections, and with more political debate than in homogeneous communities Religion Those raised in religious households tend to be socialized to contribute to society and to get involved in their communities Copyright 2006 Prentice Hall

Where We Learn the American Political Culture Media More than two-thirds of Americans report that they receive “all or most” of their news from television Copyright 2006 Prentice Hall

Bias CNN (liberal) MSNBC (liberal) FOX (conservative) PBS (7:00 p.m.) Jim Lehrer NewsHour Newspapers (liberal): New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, Houston Chronicle Newspapers (conservative): Wall Street Journal, Washington Times, New York Post… Watchdogs: 60 Minutes; Open Secrets; Common Cause; Copyright 2006 Prentice Hall

Political and Economic Change The Industrial Transformation Robber Barons/child labor/monopolies The Great Depression/Why? Unrestrained/unregulated capitalism Copyright 2006 Prentice Hall

Hoover (Rep.)/Blue vs. Smith (Dem./Red) 1928 Copyright 2006 Prentice Hall

FDR/Dem/Red vs. Hoover/Rep/Blue 1932 Copyright 2006 Prentice Hall

What Americans Value: Political Ideologies Political Ideology: A coherent set of beliefs about politics, public policy, and public purpose. Who Are the Liberals and Conservatives? Views change over time Currently about 42% conservative, 25% liberal, 34% moderate

Liberalism and Conservatism A belief in free markets, limited government, and individual self-reliance in economic affairs, combined with a belief in the value of tradition, law, and morality in social affairs Liberalism A belief in a strong government to provide economic security and protection for civil rights, combined with a freedom from government intervention in social conduct Copyright 2006 Prentice Hall

What Americans Value: Political Ideologies Liberals: Less military spending Opposed to prayer in schools Favor affirmative action Tax the rich more Solve the problems that cause crime Conservatives: More military spending Support prayer in schools Oppose affirmative action Keep taxes low Should stop “coddling criminals” From Table 6.3

Differences in Political Ideology Copyright 2006 Prentice Hall

Socialism An economic and governmental system based on public ownership of the means of production and exchange Bernard Sanders, a self-described Socialist, is a Congressman from Vermont Copyright 2006 Prentice Hall

Michael Badnarik, Libertarian candidate for president in 2004 Libertarianism An ideology that cherishes individual liberty and insists on a sharply limited government, promoting a free market economy, a noninterventionist foreign policy, and an absence of regulation in the moral and social spheres Michael Badnarik, Libertarian candidate for president in 2004 Copyright 2006 Prentice Hall

Ralph Nader ran for president as a Green Party candidate in 2000 Environmentalism An ideology that is dominated by concerns for the environment but also promotes grassroots democracy, social justice, equal opportunity, nonviolence, respect for diversity, and feminism Ralph Nader ran for president as a Green Party candidate in 2000 Copyright 2006 Prentice Hall

Liberalism Senator Ted Kennedy (D.-Mass) has been a champion of liberal programs and legislation for many years Copyright 2006 Prentice Hall

Ideology Curve Copyright 2006 Prentice Hall

2008 (Red/Dem vs. Blue/Rep.) Copyright 2006 Prentice Hall

How Americans Participate in Politics Protest as Participation Protest: A form of political participation designed to achieve policy changes through dramatic and unconventional tactics. Civil disobedience: A form of political participation that reflects a conscious decision to break a law believed to be immoral and to suffer the consequences.

Liberalism and Conservatism Copyright 2006 Prentice Hall

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Camp Casey Copyright 2006 Prentice Hall

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Political Ideology and the American People Copyright 2006 Prentice Hall

Ideology and Tolerance Whereas liberals are highly concerned about the rights of due process, Conservatives tend to take a hard line about the rights of the accused “It’s been hell! The breakfast bagels aren’t toasted, I can’t sleep with a nightlight, there’s no “dry hair” formula shampoo in the showers, and the guard won’t get close enough for me to stab him with a spoon!” Copyright 2006 Prentice Hall