Political Culture and Ideology Applying the Principles of the Declaration of Independence

Major Themes of the Declaration of Independence Among these rights: Life Liberty Pursuit of happiness Self evident truths Human equality Natural rights Purpose of gov’t Measure of Justice Right of revolution Limits to the right of revolution To secure rights Consent of the governed Whenever any form of gov’t is destructive of the security of natural rights Prudence: Long-established gov’ts shouldn’t be overthrown for “light and transient causes” Experience: Men are more disposed to suffer while evils are sufferable than to right themselves All men are created equal We hold these truths to be self-evident They are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights

Political Culture A general set of Ideas, attitudes and beliefs Shapes a region’s politics Political Cultures in the US may identify with certain principles in the Declaration of Independence Political culture sometimes confused with ideology Most communities in the US participate in at least one of the following: –Traditionalism –Individualism –Moralism

Traditionalism Basic featuresAssociated regionAdvantagesDisadvantages Strong attachment to long-established institutions Preference for traditional ‘modes and orders’ Suspicion of change Family legacies The “Old South”: South Carolina North Carolina Virginia Tennessee Georgia Mississippi Alabama Louisiana Texas Stability Predictability Laws and customs tend to remain constant Inflexibility Lack of social mobility Tolerance of corruption in the public sector Hostility to reform Fatalism Examples: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” “You can’t fight city hall.” Uncontested elections Political Dynasties (Bush, Thurmond, Moncrieff, Kennedy)

Individualism Basic featuresAssociated regionAdvantagesDisadvantages Strong belief in self-reliance Preference for individual and independent action; free enterprise Suspicion of public institutions Resistance to regulation “The Self-Made Man” The “Old West”: Wyoming Texas Colorado New Mexico Arizona Nevada Montana North Dakota South Dakota Opportunity Privacy Recognition of individual efforts Accountability Isolation Lack of community support Intolerance of public sector involvement Tolerance of corruption in the private sector, provided one isn’t caught Examples: “You’ll get my gun when you pry it from my cold dead hands.” “You’ve got nobody to blame but yourself.” Entrepreneurs, independent contractors “Caveat emptor”

Moralism Basic featuresAssociated regionAdvantagesDisadvantages Strong belief in community, “commonwealth” Preference for formal community action Suspicion of private institutions and interests Strong regulatory presence “New England”: Massachusetts New Hampshire Connecticut Maine New York Pennsylvania Also prevalent in the Pacific NW and in capital cities Community Accountability Active social support structures “safety nets” Intrusiveness Tolerance of corruption in the public sector if it serves the “moral duty” of serving the commonwealth Inaction unless initiated by community officials High public debt; high taxes Examples: “Did you bring enough for everybody?” “We’re from the government and we’re here to help you.” Social Security, social welfare programs Public education programs

Political Culture v. Ideology Political Culture A set of general attitudes, ideas and beliefs Broadly informs and shapes a region’s politics Ideology A set of specific attitudes, ideas and beliefs Provides or advocates a coherent plan for social, political, or economic action

Examples of ideologies Political ideologies –Libertarianism –Liberalism –Conservatism –Anarchism –Socialism –Fascism –Communism –Communitarianism –Statism Economic ideologies –capitalism –communism –globalism –protectionism –Keynesianism –monetarism –Market fundamentalism Social ideologies –Tribalism –Ethnocentrism –Nationalism –Feminism –Multiculturalism –Supremacism

What ideology Is A set of specific ideas, attitudes and beliefs Provides or advocates a coherent plan for social, political, or economic action Plan is consistent with, and is explained in terms of, the ideas, attitudes and beliefs held

What ideology is not: Ideology is not political culture –Traditionalists are not necessarily conservatives –Liberals are not necessarily moralists Ideology is not partisanship –Democrats are not necessarily liberal –Republicans are not necessarily conservative Ideology is not a policy position –E.g. Abortion advocates are not necessarily libertarian or liberal opponents are not necessarily conservative or libertarian –E.g. Immigration “Open border” advocates are not necessarily libertarian globalists “Closed border” advocates are not necessarily conservative ethnocentrists

Comparative Ideology 1: Left and Right Wings Origins in the French National Assembly Motto of the French Revolution: Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité (liberty, equality, brotherhood) Revolutionary Advocates of Liberté and Egalité, opposing the ancien régime (the Old Order) sat on the left side of the room Advocates of Liberté and Fraternité, sympathetic to the ancien régime, sat on the right side of the room This distinction grafted onto the American Congress in the early 19 th Century

Left and Right: The Political Spectrum The most common comparative model of ideological preference in the US Left WingRight Wing LiberalismConservatismCentrismSocialismCommunismStatismFascism