American Political Culture Tocqueville: democracy here Definition of political culture »More political than economic equality ok Elements of the American View »Liberty (rights), equality, Democracy (accountability), Civic Duty, Indiv. Responsibility Questions raised –Why conflict? Consensus: political values, from Locke, shared Conflict: Liberal/Conservative view, not unified

Comparisons and Sources Political Comparisons: Sweden, Japan Stronger sense of civic duty here than Germany, Mexico, Italy Economic Comparisons: Sweden, Japan Religiously: more than European Sources of Political Culture: Historical Legal-Sociological »No national religion, but cleavages »Family influences, political ID »Class consciousness mostly absent

The Culture War Battle over values among cultural classes Not political: no $, no solutions, conflict Private vs. public morality “What kind of country should we have?” Oversimplification: two camps –Orthodox: fixed rules-God; fundamentalist Protestants –Progressives: changing rules; liberal Protestants/weak bel Between and within religious denominations

Mistrust, Efficacy, Tolerance Mistrust: of government –Mistrust leaders, but not selves or system Efficacy: We Can make a difference –Internal and External –Not alienation, but realistic Tolerance: Crucial to system –Free flow of ideas –Most allow, to an extent –Unpopular groups: most don’t act on beliefs Conclusion: Liberty can’t be taken for granted.