POLITICAL CULTURE

The American View of the Political System / Elements include: / 1) Liberty / 2) Equality / 3) democracy / 4) Civic duty, individual responsibility / Elements include: / 1) Liberty / 2) Equality / 3) democracy / 4) Civic duty, individual responsibility

POLITICAL CULTURE / A DISTICTIVE AND PATTERNED WAY OF THINKING ABOUT HOW POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC LIFE OUGHT TO BE CARRIED OUT.

UNIQUE QUALITIES OF AMERICAN CULTURE / Why could democracy take root in the United States? / 1. Minimal tax base. No feudal aristocracy. / 2. Vast territory opportunities. / 3. Few legal restraints. / Why could democracy take root in the United States? / 1. Minimal tax base. No feudal aristocracy. / 2. Vast territory opportunities. / 3. Few legal restraints.

American Economic System / We support free enterprise / We believe in equality of opportunity not equality of result / We have a widely shared commitment to economic individualism / We believe that “hard work” gets rewarded. / We support free enterprise / We believe in equality of opportunity not equality of result / We have a widely shared commitment to economic individualism / We believe that “hard work” gets rewarded.

Comparing USA to Other Nations / Sweden- more deferential than participatory / Believe in What’s best for everyone / Japanese- emphasize group decisions / Respect hierarchy / Sweden- more deferential than participatory / Believe in What’s best for everyone / Japanese- emphasize group decisions / Respect hierarchy

United States / We tend to assert rights / We emphasize individualism, equality and following rules. / We have a strong sense of civic duty, more likely to go to war, participate more….except voting. / We tend to assert rights / We emphasize individualism, equality and following rules. / We have a strong sense of civic duty, more likely to go to war, participate more….except voting.

Role of Religion / The US is a highly religious nation compared to its European counterparts. / Religious beliefs have played an important role in American politics. / The US is a highly religious nation compared to its European counterparts. / Religious beliefs have played an important role in American politics.

Sources of Political Culture / The American Revolution was fought over liberty. / The Constitution was an effort to reconcile liberty with societal control. / We have had a long standing distrust of government. / The American Revolution was fought over liberty. / The Constitution was an effort to reconcile liberty with societal control. / We have had a long standing distrust of government.

Legal/ Sociological Factors / Widespread (not universal) participation permitted by Constitution / Absence of national religion / 1) religious diversity a source of cleavage. / 2) Absence of national religion is why / Widespread (not universal) participation permitted by Constitution / Absence of national religion / 1) religious diversity a source of cleavage. / 2) Absence of national religion is why

Family/ Class / Family instills the way we think about politics. / Leads to beliefs and acceptance of diverse views. / Americans have lack class consciousness….most people believe they are middle class. / Family instills the way we think about politics. / Leads to beliefs and acceptance of diverse views. / Americans have lack class consciousness….most people believe they are middle class.

Culture War Progressive v. Orthodox / People battle over values….what kind of nation we should live in? / Two distinct groups: / 1) Orthodox- morality (rules from God) is more important than self- expression / 2) Progressive- personal freedom is more important than tradition. / People battle over values….what kind of nation we should live in? / Two distinct groups: / 1) Orthodox- morality (rules from God) is more important than self- expression / 2) Progressive- personal freedom is more important than tradition.

Current Culture / More people consider themselves to be progressives. / The rise of technology makes it easier to mobilize people. / More people consider themselves to be progressives. / The rise of technology makes it easier to mobilize people.

Mistrust of Government / There is evidence of mistrust of government since the 1960s. / 1) diminished trust in the President & Congress / 2) Stable trust in the Supreme Court / 3) Increased trust in state/local governments / There is evidence of mistrust of government since the 1960s. / 1) diminished trust in the President & Congress / 2) Stable trust in the Supreme Court / 3) Increased trust in state/local governments

Why do we mistrust our government? / 1) Watergate / 2) Vietnam / 3) Clinton’s scandals / 4) Election of 2000 / 5) Weapons of Mass Destruction? / 6) Hurricane Katrina / 1) Watergate / 2) Vietnam / 3) Clinton’s scandals / 4) Election of 2000 / 5) Weapons of Mass Destruction? / 6) Hurricane Katrina

Overall view of government / We still trust our system of government, we still believe in each other. / However, we do not trust our elected officials and their policies. / We still trust our system of government, we still believe in each other. / However, we do not trust our elected officials and their policies.

Political Efficacy / Definition: A citizen’s capacity to understand and influence events. / It has two parts: / 1) internal efficacy - confidence in one’s ability to understand & influence events / 2) external efficacy- belief that system will respond to citizens. It has declined steadily since the 1960s. / Definition: A citizen’s capacity to understand and influence events. / It has two parts: / 1) internal efficacy - confidence in one’s ability to understand & influence events / 2) external efficacy- belief that system will respond to citizens. It has declined steadily since the 1960s.

Efficacy & Tolerance / Efficacy is much higher among Americans than Europeans. / We have a high degree of political tolerance because: / 1) it allows a free discussion of ideas / 2) it allows for us to select rulers without oppression. / Efficacy is much higher among Americans than Europeans. / We have a high degree of political tolerance because: / 1) it allows a free discussion of ideas / 2) it allows for us to select rulers without oppression.

Freedom & Unpopular Groups / Freedom is the most important concept to most Americans. / This allows unpopular groups to exist and survive because: / 1) most people don’t act on their beliefs. / 2) Our court system is sufficiently insulated from public opinion and enforces constitutional protections. / Freedom is the most important concept to most Americans. / This allows unpopular groups to exist and survive because: / 1) most people don’t act on their beliefs. / 2) Our court system is sufficiently insulated from public opinion and enforces constitutional protections.