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Political Culture and Ideology

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1 Political Culture and Ideology
Applying the Principles of the Declaration of Independence

2 Major Themes of the Declaration of Independence
Self evident truths We hold these truths to be self-evident Human equality All men are created equal They are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights Among these rights: Life Liberty Pursuit of happiness Natural rights Purpose of gov’t To secure rights Measure of Justice Consent of the governed Whenever any form of gov’t is destructive of the security of natural rights Right of revolution Limits to the right of revolution Prudence: Long-established gov’ts shouldn’t be overthrown for “light and transient causes” Experience: Men are more disposed to suffer while evils are sufferable than to right themselves

3 Political Culture A general set of Ideas, attitudes and beliefs
Shapes a region’s politics Political Cultures in the US may identify with certain principles in the Declaration of Independence Political culture sometimes confused with ideology Most communities in the US participate in at least one of the following: Traditionalism Individualism Moralism

4 Traditionalism Basic features Associated region Advantages
Disadvantages Strong attachment to long-established institutions Preference for traditional ‘modes and orders’ Suspicion of change Family legacies Stability Predictability Laws and customs tend to remain constant The “Old South”: South Carolina North Carolina Virginia Tennessee Georgia Mississippi Alabama Louisiana Texas Inflexibility Lack of social mobility Tolerance of corruption in the public sector Hostility to reform Fatalism Examples: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” “You can’t fight city hall.” Uncontested elections Political Dynasties (Bush, Thurmond, Moncrieff, Kennedy)

5 Individualism Basic features Associated region Advantages
Disadvantages Strong belief in self-reliance Preference for individual and independent action; free enterprise Suspicion of public institutions Resistance to regulation “The Self-Made Man” Opportunity Privacy Recognition of individual efforts Accountability The “Old West”: Wyoming Texas Colorado New Mexico Arizona Nevada Montana North Dakota South Dakota Isolation Lack of community support Intolerance of public sector involvement Tolerance of corruption in the private sector, provided one isn’t caught Examples: “You’ll get my gun when you pry it from my cold dead hands.” “You’ve got nobody to blame but yourself.” Entrepreneurs, independent contractors “Caveat emptor”

6 Moralism Basic features Associated region Advantages Disadvantages
Strong belief in community, “commonwealth” Preference for formal community action Suspicion of private institutions and interests Strong regulatory presence Community Accountability Active social support structures “safety nets” “New England”: Massachusetts New Hampshire Connecticut Maine New York Pennsylvania Also prevalent in the Pacific NW and in capital cities Intrusiveness Tolerance of corruption in the public sector if it serves the “moral duty” of serving the commonwealth Inaction unless initiated by community officials High public debt; high taxes Examples: “Did you bring enough for everybody?” “We’re from the government and we’re here to help you.” Social Security, social welfare programs Public education programs

7 Political Culture v. Ideology
A set of general attitudes, ideas and beliefs Broadly informs and shapes a region’s politics Ideology A set of specific attitudes, ideas and beliefs Provides or advocates a coherent plan for social, political, or economic action

8 Examples of ideologies
Economic ideologies capitalism communism globalism protectionism Keynesianism monetarism Market fundamentalism Political ideologies Libertarianism Liberalism Conservatism Anarchism Socialism Fascism Communism Communitarianism Statism Social ideologies Tribalism Ethnocentrism Nationalism Feminism Multiculturalism Supremacism

9 What ideology Is A set of specific ideas, attitudes and beliefs
Provides or advocates a coherent plan for social, political, or economic action Plan is consistent with, and is explained in terms of, the ideas, attitudes and beliefs held

10 What ideology is not: Ideology is not political culture
Traditionalists are not necessarily conservatives Liberals are not necessarily moralists Ideology is not partisanship Democrats are not necessarily liberal Republicans are not necessarily conservative Ideology is not a policy position E.g. Abortion advocates are not necessarily libertarian or liberal opponents are not necessarily conservative or libertarian E.g. Immigration “Open border” advocates are not necessarily libertarian globalists “Closed border” advocates are not necessarily conservative ethnocentrists

11 Comparative Ideology 1: Left and Right Wings
Motto of the French Revolution: Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité (liberty, equality, brotherhood) Origins in the French National Assembly Advocates of Liberté and Fraternité, sympathetic to the ancien régime, sat on the right side of the room Revolutionary Advocates of Liberté and Egalité, opposing the ancien régime (the Old Order) sat on the left side of the room This distinction grafted onto the American Congress in the early 19th Century

12 Left and Right: The Political Spectrum
The most common comparative model of ideological preference in the US Left Wing Right Wing Communism Socialism Liberalism Centrism Conservatism Statism Fascism


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