1. Political Culture and Ideology
Chapter 4

2. What is Political Culture?
Political Culture - the inherited set of beliefs, attitudes, and opinions Americans have about how their government ought to operate.

3. Elements of the American Political System
1. Liberty
2. Equality
3. Democracy
4. Civic duty
5. Individual responsibility

4. The Economic System
1. Americans support free enterprise, but see limits on marketplace freedom
2. Americans prefer equality of opportunity over equality of result
3. Americans have a shared commitment to economic individualism (1924 /1977 Poll on Personal Responsibility shows that high school students feel that we are personally responsible)

5. Political System and Ideology
1. Americans tend to be assertive and participatory
2. Other nations citizens, Sweden for example, tend to "trust the experts" and advocate "what is best" as opposed to "what people want."
3. Japanese stress group harmony and community more. Americans are much willing to buck trends and disrupt the status quo.
4. Americans stress individualism, competition, equality and "following the rules."
5. Americans vote less but participate in other ways more.
6. Americans have more faith in their national institutions then other nations.

6. Economic Systems
1. American concept of Capitalism and fair competition firmly entrenched.
2. America more of a "meritocracy." We accept some income inequality but not class division.
3. Other nations more socialistic.

7. Religious Belief 1. Americans are much more religious
2. Religion plays a much more important role in politics - both liberals and conservatives use religion to promote their political agenda.

8. The Source of Political Culture
A. Historical roots
1. Revolution essentially over liberty; preoccupied with asserting rights
2. Adversarial culture due to distrust of authority and a belief that human nature is depraved
3. Federalist-Jeffersonian transition in 1800
a. Legitimated role of opposition party; liberty and political change can coexist

9. Legal Sociological Factors
1. Widespread (not universal) participation permitted by Constitution
2. Absence of an established national religion
a. Religious diversity a source of cleavage
b. Absence of established religion has facilitated the absence of political orthodoxy

10. Puritan Heritage stress on Personal Achievement
(1) Work
(2) Save money
(3) Obey secular law
(4) Do good works
(5) Embrace "Protestant ethic" (work ethic)

11. Continued….
Miniature political systems produced by churches' congregational organization, so civic and political skills could develop

12. Family Instills the way we think about world…
Greater freedom of children and equality among family members leads to belief in rights and
acceptance of diverse views in decision-making
High degree of class consciousness absent
a. Most people consider themselves middle class
b. Even unemployed do not oppose management
c. Message of Horatio Alger stories is still popular

13. The Culture War 1 . Two cultural classes in America battle over values
2. Culture war differs from political disputes in three ways:
a. Money is not at stake
b. Compromises are almost impossible
c. Conflict is more profound
3. Culture conflict animated by deep differences in people's beliefs about private and public morality
4. Culture war about what kind of country we ought to live in.

14. Continued…. 5. Simplify by identifying two camps
a. Orthodox: morality more important than self- expression with fixed rules from God
b. Progressive: personal freedom more important than tradition with changing rules based on circumstances of modern life
6. Orthodox associated with fundamentalist Protestants and progressives with mainline Protestants and those with no strong religious beliefs
7. Culture war occurring both between and within religious denominations.

15. Continued…
Current culture war has special historical importance due to two changes:
a. More people consider themselves progressives than previously.
b. Rise of technology makes it easier to mobilize people.

16. Mistrust of Government
A. Evidence of increase since mid-1960s
1. Continued use of Exec. Privilege by President…
2. Polls show people believe ...
a. "Quite a few" crooks in government
b. Government run for a "few big interests"
c. "Lots" of tax money wasted
d. Government does right only "some of the time"

17. Mistrust….. Causes 1. Watergate 2. Vietnam Necessary to view context
1. Mistrust of specific leaders and policies, not of system mainly
2. Present view closer to historical norm
3. Mistrust shared with most other institutions
In summary
1. No loss of confidence in Americans themselves or in their system
2. But people less ready to support leaders than in 1950s

18. American Dream
A complex set of ideas holding that the United States is a land of opportunity and that individual initiative and hard work can bring economic success.

19. Political Ideology:
Liberalism: refers to a belief in the positive uses of government to bring about justice and equality of opportunity.
Conservative: Enhance individual Liberty by keeping government small, especially the national government, except in the areas of national defence

20. Roosevelt's Second Bill of Rights:
The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries, shops, farms, or mines of the nation.
The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation
The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return would give him and his family a decent living.

21. Cont…
The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad.
The right of every family to a decent home
The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health

22. Cont…Cont…
The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment.
The right to a good education

23. Socialism
An economic and governmental system based on public ownership of the means of production and exchange.

24. Environmentalism
An intense concern with the environment and related matters.

25. Libertarianism
Is a political ideology that cherishes individual liberty and insists on sharply limited government.