1. Political Culture

2. Political Culture
Political culture: a distinctive and patterned way of thinking about how political and economic life ought to be carried out.
Political Ideology (not the same as political culture): more or less consistent sets of views concerning the policies government ought to pursue (conservatism, liberalism)

3. Elements of American Political Culture
Liberty: freedom to do what we want, as long as our actions don’t hurt others
Equality: equal vote and chance to participate in political system
Democracy: government officials should be held accountable to the people
Civic Duty: people ought to help out in their community when possible
Individual responsibility: barring some disability, individuals are responsible for their own actions and well-being
Justice and Rule of Law: government is based on a body of law applied equally and by just procedures

4. Questions about Culture
How do we know people share common cultural beliefs?
Inferred from books, speeches, political choices, etc.
How do we explain behavior that is inconsistent with political culture?
These beliefs change behavior. Example: equality
Why is there so much political conflict in U.S. history?
Some beliefs contradict each other and are not consistently prioritized.

5. The Economic System
Americans tolerate economic inequality more than political inequality.
“Equality of opportunity” NOT “Equality of Results”
Cultural emphasis on economic individualism and personal responsibility.

6. Sources of Political Culture
Historical
American Revolution: War fought over liberty
Constitution: balanced liberty with government
Adversarial culture: preoccupation with individual rights
Distrust of authority: British rule, religious belief that human nature was fundamentally depraved

7. Sources of Political Culture
Legal-sociological factors
Widespread participation permitted by the Constitution
Religious institutions
Religious diversity
Puritan heritage
Miniature political systems
Family
Greater freedom of children and equality among family members
Absence of class consciousness (workers versus management)

8. The Culture War Battle over values Differs from political disputes:
Money is not at stake
Compromise is almost impossible
Conflict is more profound
Conflict arising from deep differences in beliefs about private and public morality

9. The Culture War
Orthodox: morality is as, or more, important than self-expression and morality derives from fixed rules from God
Progressive: personal freedom is as, or more, important than tradition with changing rules based on circumstances of modern life
The culture war occurs both between and within religious denominations

10. The Culture War The culture war is changing
More people consider themselves progressives than previously
The rise of media and technology makes it easier to wage a cultural war on a large scale
The culture war may affect people’s
Trust in government
Sense of political efficacy
Tolerance of different views

11. Mistrust of Government
General mistrust of government officials, not the entire system
Examples of causes: Vietnam, Watergate
Level of trust rose briefly during the Reagan administration

12. Political Efficacy
Political efficacy: A citizen’s capacity to understand and influence political events
There has been a sharp drop in the sense of external efficacy (the ability to make the system respond to the citizenry)
The sense of internal efficacy (the ability to understand and take part in political affairs) has remained relatively unchanged over time.

13. Political Tolerance
Political tolerance is crucial to democracy because it allows free discussion of ideas and the selection of rulers without oppression.
Democracy does not require perfect tolerance.

14. Political Tolerance
Most Americans believe in the idea of political tolerance but would deny rights in concrete cases.
There is concern that the nation is becoming too tolerant of behaviors that harm society
Many favor defending common moral standards over protecting individual rights
Still, most Americans are willing to allow expression by those with whom they disagree

15. Political Tolerance How do unpopular groups survive?
Most people do not act on their beliefs
There is no consensus on whom to persecute (Which groups do we deny rights?)
Courts are insulated from public opinion and enforce constitutional protections