American political culture continued 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? 1.Individuals have rights 2.Individuals are equal under law 3.Gov’t must be limited to protect rights 4.State as instrument for serving individuals 5.Rule of Law/Constitutionalism 6.Joining 7.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

Percentage who agree: “Government should provide everyone with a guaranteed basic income.” U.S.29% Australia44% West Germany61% U.K.64% Netherlands65% Italy 81%

Percent who agree that “government should provide a decent standard of living for the unemployed” U.S.21% Australia38% Netherlands 50% U.K.65% West Germany66% Italy68%

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% Australia61% Italy 45% Germany40% Britain37%

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.