Political Culture and Ideology

Political Culture  The widely shared beliefs, values, and norms about how citizens relate to government and to one another

Characteristics of a Political Culture  Who participates in political decisions  What rights and liberties do citizens have  How political decisions are made  What people think about politicians and government

Social Capital  Democratic and civic habits of discussion, compromise, and respect for differences which grow out of participation in voluntary organizations  Is Social Capital in decline?

Shared American Political values  Liberty  Equality Political Equality and equal opportunity Political Equality and equal opportunity  Individualism  Respect for the Common Person  Democratic Census Majority Rule, Minority Rights, Popular Soveriegnty Majority Rule, Minority Rights, Popular Soveriegnty

Shared American Political values  Patriotism, Optimism, and Idealism  Justice and Rule of Law (5 parts) Generality Generality Prospectivity Prospectivity Publicity Publicity Authority Authority Due Process Due Process

Where do we learn political Culture?  Families  Public School  College  Religious Institutions  Mass Media

The American Dream  The widespread belief that America is a land of opportunity and that individual initiative and hard work can bring economic success  Factors that fuel the American Dream  Capitalism, Ownership of private property  Is the dream a reality or myth?

Political ideology  A consistent pattern of beliefs about political values and the role of government  Includes the views people have about how government should work and how it actually works

18 th and 19 th century Liberalism  Classical liberals fought to minimize the role of government  Stressed individual rights  Favored limited government  Protect people from government harassment

Contemporary Liberals  Believe that government can bring about justice and equality of opportunity  Want to preserve the rights of individuals but believe government intervention is necessary to off set the effects of capitalism  Believe in the probability of progress  Consider equality of opportunity essential to all Americans

Liberal Viewpoints  Equal access to healthcare, housing, and education for all citizens  Believe in Affirmative Action  Tax rates rise with income  Workers rights

Criticisms of Liberalism  Rely too much on government  High Taxes  Too many government regulations hinder the “self help ethic” of the US  Lack of morality  Destroy the individual initiative, the entrepreneurial sprit and economic growth that’s leads to true economic opportunity

Conservatism  A belief that limited government ensures order, competitive markets, and personal opportunity  Belief in private property rights and free enterprise  Want to keep government small and military large  Primary task of government is to keep order and people need strong leadership, firm laws, and strict moral codes

Traditional Conservatives  Sole function of government should be to Protect the nation from foreign enemies Protect the nation from foreign enemies Preserve law and order Preserve law and order Enforce private contracts Enforce private contracts Foster competitive markets Foster competitive markets Encourage free and fair trade Encourage free and fair trade Promote family values Promote family values  Pro-business, favor tax cuts, minimum regulations in business, trade, anti-trust, and environment

Social Conservatives  Focuses less on economics and more on lifestyle and morality (Christian Right, Radical Right)  Strong government action to protect children from pornography and drugs  Want to overturn judicial rulings that favor abortion, same sex marriages, and affirmative action programs

Critics of Conservatism  Hypocritical – only supports government when it benefits them  School vouchers, prescription drug plans  Favors big businesses rights over the rights of employees and consumer activists  Endorses policies that promote racism, sexism, and intolerance

Socialism  An economic and governmental system based on public ownership of the means of production and change  Founded by Germen philosopher Karl Marx  Pros – No poverty, Welfare of citizens taken care of, stable economy  Cons – No freedoms, no private property,

Libertarianism  Ideology that cherished individual liberty and insists on minimal government, promoting a free market economy, a noninterventionist foreign policy, and an absence of regulation in moral, economic, and social life  Oppose almost all government regulations and programs

2000 Libertarian Platform  Immediate and complete removal of federal government from education, energy, regulation, crime control, welfare, housing, transportation, health care, and agriculture  Repeal income tax, other direct taxes, decriminalization of drugs and pardons for prisoners convicted of non-violent drug offenses