1. American Political Culture
Chapter Four
American Political Culture

2. Culture
Politically, there are three main differences among countries: constitutional, demographic, and cultural.
Culture is very important when it comes to politics and gov’t. However, it is the most difficult to analyze.

3. What is Culture?
According to Webster’s culture may have the following meanings:
the act of developing the intellectual and moral faculties especially by education
enlightenment and excellence of taste acquired by intellectual and aesthetic training
acquaintance with and taste in fine arts, humanities, and broad aspects of science as distinguished from vocational and technical skills
the integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends upon the capacity for learning and transmitting knowledge to succeeding generations
the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group ; also : the characteristic features of everyday existence (as diversions or a way of life) shared by people in a place or time

4. Political Culture
Political Culture: A distinctive and patterned way of thinking about how political and economic life ought to be carried out

5. Modern Democracies with Different Political Cultures
Most modern democracies have vastly different political cultures--why?
Demographic differences (religion, ethnicity, population, etc.)
Historical development of individual countries plays a large role in the development of class consciousness
Differing ideas of the proper role of government

6. American Political Values
When it comes to the American view of politics there are at least five important elements:
Liberty – rights
Equality – equal vote; equal chance to participate and succeed
Democracy – government is accountable to the people
Civic duty – take community affairs seriously and become involved when possible
Individual responsibility – individuals responsible for their own actions and well-being

7. Questions About Political Culture
How do we know people share these beliefs?
There is no exact way to prove that all Americans hold the above characteristics in the same regard.
However, studies and polls infer that these values are held by many Americans.
How do we explain behavior inconsistent with these beliefs?
It is a fact that people act contrary to their professed beliefs.
Besides values, self-interest and social circumstances also shape behavior.
Why is there so much political conflict in U.S. history?
Political values may be irrelevant to specific controversies.
Not every person’s perception of the values mean the same thing.

8. Beliefs About Economics
Americans support free enterprise, but support some limits on marketplace freedom
Americans believe in “equality of opportunity” but not “equality of result”
Americans have a widely shared commitment to economic individualism
What are the roles of welfare and civil rights in this situation? (See p.80)

9. The Civic Role of Religion
Americans are more religious than most citizens in European democracies
Religious views greatly affect politics:
s, the First Great Awakening eventually led to the colonist’s break with English rule
Both liberals and conservatives have used the pulpit to promote political change:
1950s-1960s, Civil rights movement was led by black religious leaders
In the 1980s and 1990s, conservative Christian groups (Moral Majority and Christian Coalition) became a strong political force in all levels of politics
See pgs.82-83

10. American Political Culture
Americans tend to assert their rights
Emphasize liberty, individualism, competition, equality, following rules, treating others fairly but impersonally
Some other countries put more emphasis on harmony and equality

11. Civic Duty and Competence
Civic duty: a belief that one has an obligation to participate in civic and political affairs
Civic competence: a belief that one can affect government policies

12. Sources of Political Culture
American Revolution was essentially over liberty—asserting rights
Widespread (not universal) participation permitted by Constitution
Absence of an established national religion made religious diversity inevitable
Family instills how we think about world and politics
Not a high degree of class consciousness

13. The Culture War The cultural clash in America is a battle over values
The culture war differs from political disputes
The culture conflict is animated by deep differences in people’s beliefs about morality

14. Two Cultural “Camps”
The idea that there are two broadly defined social classes in the U.S. was first developed by James Davison Hunter.
Orthodox: morality is as, or more, important than self- expression; morality derives from fixed rules from God
Progressive: personal freedom is as, or more, important than tradition; rules change based on circumstances of modern life and individual preferences
See pgs.85-86

15. Mistrust of Government
There is evidence that mistrust of gov’t officials has increased since the late 1950s
Causes:
Watergate scandal, the Vietnam War, the Clinton impeachment, and the Iraqi War
Public confidence is likely to ebb and flow with circumstances

16. Figure 4.2: External Political Efficacy Index, 1952-2004
Insert figure 4.1

17. Political Efficacy
Political efficacy: citizen’s capacity to understand and influence political events
Internal efficacy: confidence in one’s ability to understand and influence events
No major changes since the 1950s-1960s
External efficacy: belief that system will respond to citizens
Drastically declined since the 1960s

18. Political Tolerance
A minimal level of tolerance is crucial to democratic politics
What is tolerance? According to Webster’s:
sympathy or indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one's own
the act of allowing something
the allowable deviation from a standard
Most Americans support tolerance in the abstract; however, most Americans would also deny these rights in specific cases
See p.89

19. How Very Unpopular Groups Survive
Most people do not act on their beliefs
Officeholders and activists are more tolerant than the general public
Usually there is no consensus on whom to persecute
Courts are sufficiently insulated from public opinion to enforce constitutional protections