1. American Political Culture
Chapter Four
American Political Culture

2. Objectives
Define what scholars mean by political culture, and list some of the dominant aspects of political culture in the United States.
Discuss how American citizens compare with those of other countries in their political attitudes.
List the contributions to United States political culture made by the Revolution, by the nation’s religious heritages, and by the family. Explain the apparent absence of class consciousness in the U.S.
Define internal and external political efficacy, and explain how the level of each of these has varied over the past generations.
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3. (THEME A: WHAT IS “AMERICAN POLITICAL CULTURE”?)
Political Culture: A distinctive and patterned way of thinking about how political and economic life ought to be carried out
For example, Americans generally believe more strongly in political than in economic equality
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4. American Political Values
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
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5. Questions About Political Culture
How do we know people share these beliefs?
How do we explain behavior inconsistent with these beliefs?
Why is there so much political conflict in U.S. history?
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6. 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
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7. American Political Culture
Americans tend to assert their rights
Emphasize individualism, competition, equality, following rules, treating others fairly but impersonally
Some other countries put more emphasis on harmony and equality
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8. Table 4.2: Patriotism in America, France, and Germany
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9. Table 4.3: Attitudes Toward Economic Equality in America and Europe
Insert table 4.3
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10. Table 4.3: Commitment to Income Equity in Sweden and the United States
Conservative William F. Buckley discusses
American values on the Charlie Rose Show
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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
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12. Religion and Politics
Religious beliefs have played an important role in American politics
Both liberals and conservatives use the pulpit to promote political change
Candidates for national office in most other contemporary democracies rarely mention religion; drastically different in the U.S.
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13. Table 4.7: Religion in Industrialized Nations, 1990-1993
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14. Table 4.8: American Beliefs about Faith-Based Programs
Panelists on Meet the Press Discuss Religion
And race in the 2008 Presidential race.
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15. Discussion Questions for Theme A
Since de Tocqueville, the United States has experienced waves of immigration from cultures contrasting with the ethnic identities present at the country’s founding. How have these groups changed the political culture of the nation?
What kinds of political, social, legal and economic problems are unique to (or more prominent in) the U.S. than they are in other places? What role does American political culture play in creating and/or exacerbating these problems? What potential solutions to these problems are also not viable because of the constraints of political culture?
As communications systems and the economy become increasingly global, what changes might be predicted in the political culture of the United States? Or, as some predict, will the political culture of the United States impose itself on other nations? Consider the influence of American pop culture—movies and entertainment, fast food, and so forth—in answering this question.
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16. Sources of Political Culture
THEME B: DIVISIONS IN AMERICAN POLITICAL CULTURE
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
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17. 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
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18. Two Cultural “Camps”
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
Clips regarding the Culture War:
Comments by Rabbi Michael Lerner
Comments about the potential end to the Culture War
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19. Mistrust of Government
There is evidence that mistrust has increased since the late 1950s
Causes: Watergate, the Vietnam War and Clinton impeachment
Public confidence is likely to ebb and flow with circumstances
No dramatic change in confidence in Americans
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20. Figure 4.1: Trust in the Federal Government, 1958-2002
Insert figure 4.1
University of Michigan, The National Election Studies.
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21. Table 4.9: Public Confidence in Institutions, 1973-2001
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22. 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
External efficacy: belief that system will respond to citizens
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23. Figure 4.3: Changes in the Sense of Political Efficacy, 1952-2000
Insert figure 4.3
University of Michigan, The National Election Studies.
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24. Political Tolerance
A minimal level of tolerance is crucial to democratic politics
Most Americans support tolerance in the abstract
Most Americans would deny these rights in specific cases
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25. Figure 4.4a: Views of Toleration and Morality
Source: The American Enterprise (January/February 1999): 37, reporting data from Roper, Washington Post, Harvard, and Kaiser Family Foundation polls.
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26. Figure 4.4b: Views of Toleration and Morality (cont’d)
Source: The American Enterprise (January/February 1999): 37, reporting data from Roper, Washington Post, Harvard, and Kaiser Family Foundation polls.
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27. Figure 4.5: Changes in Levels of Political Tolerance, 1930-1999
Source: Gallup poll data, various years, as compiled by Professor John Zaller, Department of Political Science, UCLA; The Gallup Organization, Poll Releases (March 29, 1999), 2-6.
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28. 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
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29. Discussion Questions for Theme B
States and regions typically have their own distinctive political cultures. What are some of the cultural contrasts you have experienced if you have moved or traveled from one state (or region) to another? How significant are these cultural differences?
Shouldn’t both Vietnam and Watergate have increased the sense of political efficacy in the United States, since the system did respond? What about the Iran-contra and Whitewater investigations?
What policies could public officials adopt to increase political efficacy among citizens? Cite some possible examples.
What issues are most divisive in America at this time? How do citizens’ responses to these issues reflect regional differences in American political culture? What other cultural differences might these divisions reflect?
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