US Political Culture Dr Simon Boucher ~ Government and Politics of the USA Lecture 5:

Required reading… McKay chap 2 Singh chap 2 Additional resources… Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America Louis Hartz, The Liberal Tradition in America Roger Smith, “Beyond Tocqueville, Myrdal and Hartz: The Multiple Traditions in America”. APSR 87.3, Sept 1993 John Kenneth Galbraith, The Culture of Contentment Robert Putnam, Bowling Alone Plus see the course website… Readings for today

Agenda What is political culture? Basic values of US political culture Additional influences on US political culture “American exceptionalism”

What is “political culture”? Beliefs and values about how… Government Political and Economic… "The orientation of the citizens of a nation toward politics, their perceptions of political legitimacy and the traditions of political practice." …Life should be carried out within a state

Formed by socialisation –Parents - Friends - School –Work - Media - Religion What happens when political culture greatly diverges from political institutions? –Regime change –Country fragments How is political culture formed? Often independent of political authority

Basics of US Political Culture Most commentators agree the foundations of US political culture –Liberty –Equality –Individualism –Democracy –The rule of law under the Constitution In the US, the political culture typically supports and reinforces the political system: “It has been our fate as a nation not to have ideologies, but to be one” (Richard Hofstadter)

Basics of US Political Culture Most commentators agree the foundations of US political culture… In the US, the political culture typically supports and reinforces the political system: “It has been our fate as a nation not to have ideologies, but to be one” (Richard Hofstadter) LibertyEquality Individualism Democracy Rule of law

Liberty Tends to be felt stronger by elites Tends to be more general than specific Has clearly increased in last 50 years Liberal attitudes stronger in certain regions Antipathy remains to certain non-American values –Islam –Big brother-state

Equality Americans have… Equality of estimation Equality of opportunity Equality before the law But… Dialogue of equality masks considerable de facto economic inequality

Individualism “Americanism” characterised by stress on individual rather than collective action… “Self-reliant roots in Puritanism Collectivist political parties absent Trade union membership low Public antipathy to welfare dependence Reinforced by the success of capitalism But economic individualism doesn’t automatically imply cultural individualism

Democracy and the rule of law Americans devoted to majoritarianism Election legitimacy usually accepted Belief in Constitution and the rule of law General admiration for the US system; system remains relatively stable Differences over the system accommodated without challenging order

Americans’ distinctive views on… Liberty Equality Individualism Democracy The rule of law under the Constitution The concept of “Americanism” Collectively form a political culture known as “Americanism”. Devotion to Americanism is striking Ideological consensus on key points supported by virtually all social and political groups

Other influences upon US political culture Immigration Social structure Race and ethnicity Religion

Immigration America is built on an “ideology of immigration” …Population has grown 20% per decade until % per decade since million immigrants in 1990s Frequently caps and restrictions placed on immigrants over US history Immigration has become increasingly controversial due to illegal immigration Bush’s attempted to address it failed spectacularly HOWEVER

Home of the middle class? Traditionally America has been essentially middle class, eschewing both working class and aristocratic values 2002: 45% of American workers in professional, technical, managerial or administrative jobs Highly educated society High level of home and stock ownership US history NOT free from class conflict Distribution of American wealth and income highly unequal Some groups in society actually getting poorer HOWEVER

Race and ethnicity US has a highly diverse ethnic composition African, Hispanic and Asian groups remain particularly distinctive Race issues clearly important, but almost always with context of established institutions and political parties

Religion America is a highly religious country Multiplicity of religions Traditionally, religion not a source of major social division Christian right has est. considerable political influence in last 20 years Faith-related issues increasingly controversial “War on terror” a “war on Islam”? HOWEVER Political success of religious right mixed Influence over-exaggerated?

Liberty Equality Individualism Democracy Social structure Immigration Religion Race The American Dream American Exceptionalism? Components of US political culture

American “Exceptionalism” A prevailing assumption that the US is unique… Historical evolution Ethnic diversity Absence of class politics Based upon ideals, not ethnicity Sophistication of Constitutional system … And superior? “Manifest destiny” Social mobility Economic and military power Moral superiority- above international law …As long as Americans believe it, it doesn’t matter whether it is true or not

The coming weeks 4-5pm this week: Dr Bill McSweeney Read class material –2 journalistic articles; 10 pages –Prepare questions Come ready to participate Weeks 4 & 5: No lectures, essay titles announced Week 6: lectures AND tutorials Federalism The Republican Presidential candidates

Tutorial groups reminder 2 tutorial groups: –Group A on 4pm in 3020 –Group B on 11am in 4046 Sign up to a tutorial group by ing Jane Places on first-come, first served basis Once you sign up to a group please stick to it Two Michaelmas term tutorials in weeks 6 and 8