1. Chapter 4 American Political Culture

2. Political Culture
Political culture is a patterned and sustained way of thinking about how political and economic life ought to be carried out.
Alexis de Tocqueville wrote Democracy in America, a profound analysis of our political culture, p. 78.
The Granger Collection
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3. Political Culture
Alexis de Tocqueville identified factors which made democracy successful in America:
Abundant and fertile land
Countless opportunities for people to acquire land and make a living.
Lack of a feudal aristocracy that blocks the ambitions of others.
An independent spirit encouraged by frontier living.

4. Political Culture
The government of the U.S. is supported by a political culture which:
fosters a sense of civic duty
takes pride in the nation’s constitutional arrangements
provides support for the exercise of essential civil liberties (ex. - freedom of expression).
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5. Political Culture: Basic common beliefs
AMERICANISM: The belief that Americans consider themselves bound by common values and common hopes.
Liberty
Americans cherish freedom and rights
Core value of the American Revolution.
“…life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness…”
2. Equality
“…all men are created equal…”
Equal treatment under the law.
Equality of opportunity (economic and political)
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6. Political Culture: Basic common beliefs
3. Individualism
Importance and dignity of the individual.
Individuals have rights and responsibilities
“Rugged individualism”
Individuals are responsible for their own well-being
Individuals should be left alone to compete for success.
Ordinary people have the “common sense” to take care of themselves and choose government leaders.
4. Democracy
Government should be based on consent of the governed
Majority rule with protection of individual rights.
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7. Political Culture: Basic common beliefs
5. Rule of Law
Government is based on laws which should apply equally, impartially and justly.
Opposite of rule by an individual (following the whims of a dictator).
6. Civic Duty
Sense of responsibility to community.
Most Americans help out when they can.
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8. Political Culture: Basic common beliefs
EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY
VS.
EQUALITY OF RESULTS
Belief that the free-enterprise system is generally fair and efficient.
Belief that if everyone has the opportunity to get ahead, then higher earnings for harder workers is fair.
There is a moral connection between effort and reward.
Do not support wealth redistribution to correct economic inequality.
Strong opposition to affirmative action (preferential treatment to correct inequality).
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9. Political Culture: Characteristics
A preoccupation with the maintenance of rights.
Stems from the Revolution (liberty) and founding experience
2. The absence of an official religion
Encourages religious and political pluralism
3.The dominance of Protestantism
promotes individualism and personal responsibility
THE “PROTESTANT ETHIC” ENCOURAGES:
a life of personal achievement.
an obligation to work and save money.
obedience to secular law.
performance of good works.
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10. Political Culture: Characteristics
4. Child-rearing practices that treat children as valuable members of the family
Children given freedom and taught equality
Leads to respect for rights, acceptance of diverse views.
5. Deep divisions over morality-based policy issues
Fundamentalist Christians (orthodox) believe in an unchanging standard of right and wrong.
Progressive Christians and secular Americans adhere to an individualistic understanding of morality.
CURRENT DIVISIVE ISSUES
abortion, sexual morality, gay rights, pornography, drug use
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11. Political Culture: Patriotism
Pew Research Center, June, 2010
83% of Americans say they are “extremely proud” or “very proud” to be an American.

12. Comparing Political Cultures
The U.S. has a unique political culture in comparison to other nations.
PATRIOTISM: 83% of Americans are patriotic compared to 21% of Germans.
INDIVIDUALISM: Majority of Europeans believe economic success is determined by forces beyond their control. Americans have strong belief in individualism.
CLASS CONSCIOUSNESS: Americans have little compared to Europeans. Most Americans consider themselves to be “middle class.”

13. Comparing Political Cultures
MORALITY: Americans have a deeper belief in religious morality than Europeans.
Americans are more religious, more likely to believe in absolute standards of right and wrong.
Religious themes are important in political campaigns.

14. Comparing Political Cultures Economic Beliefs
Americans favor economic freedom over equality.
Swedes tend to favor equal pay and a top limit on incomes.
Americans are less likely to think that government should guarantee citizens a basic standard of living.

15. Political Culture: Changing Values
Individualism and freedom in a time of abundant, cheap farmland.
Accumulation of wealth results from individual effort.
Free-enterprise and capitalism complimented values of value of individualism.

16. Political Culture: Changing Values
Late 1900s
Industrial economy: exploitation of workers, monopolies, robber barons.
Old values of individualism and freedom come in conflict with equality.
Is the new economic arrangement “fair?”
What should the government do to correct inequalities?

17. How much of the time do you think you can trust the government in Washington to do what is right?
Just about always
Most of the time
Some of the time
None of the time
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18. Mistrust in Government
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19. Mistrust in Government
In recent years, people’s mistrust in government officials has increased and confidence in officials’ responsiveness to the popular will has declined.
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20. Figure 4.2 Trust in the Federal Government, 1958-2004
Source: University of Michigan, The American National Election Studies.
p. 90
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21. Gallup: Trust in the Federal Government, 1992 – 2010
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22. Mistrust of Government
Our trust in our system of government has not declined.
52% say members are the problem, the system works fine.
38% say members have good intentions, the system is broken.
Pew Research, 2011

23. Source: Gallup Poll
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24. Mistrust of Government
POLITICAL EFFICACY
Def - A citizen’s capacity to understand and influence political events.
High political efficacy means a person believes “my vote counts” and that “my government listens to me.”
A decline in political efficacy has paralleled the decline in trust of government.
Big drop during the 1960s and 70s.

25. Mistrust of Government
Civil society is that collection of private, voluntary groups that – independent of the government and the commercial market – make human cooperation easier and provide ways of holding the government accountable for its actions.
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26. Mistrust of Government
Reasons for decline in trust: Wilson, pp Read carefully.
Of what use is this information:
For elected officials and other politicians?
For citizens?
For political scientists?

27. In what ways does democracy depend on political tolerance?
DEMOCRACY REQUIRES:
Free discussion of ideas.
Ability to choose leaders without fear of oppression.
Protection of minority rights.
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28. Levels of American political tolerance
Most Americans agree in the abstract with freedom of speech, majority rule, and right to circulate petitions.
Studies indicate that most Americans would deny these rights in concrete cases.
Liberals dislike neo-Nazis and militia groups.
Conservatives dislike gays, atheists and communists.
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29. Levels of American political tolerance
Research does not show that liberals are more tolerant than conservatives although that is the popular opinion.
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30. Levels of American political tolerance
Most Americans believe that the nation is too tolerant of harmful behaviors; defense of common moral standards is more important than protection of individual rights.
Still, most are willing to allow expression by those with whom they disagree.
Americans have become more tolerant in recent decades.
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31. How do unpopular groups survive?
Political Tolerance
How do unpopular groups survive?
Most people do not act on their beliefs.
Officeholders and activists are more tolerant than general public.
Usually no consensus exists on whom to persecute.
Courts are sufficiently insulated from public opinion to enforce constitutional protections.
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32. Political Culture: Persistence of Conflict
Americans share many basic values.
Why, then, is there so much conflict in our political culture?
There are fundamental differences based on moral rules.
The most explosive issues in America are morality-based: abortion, school prayer, gay rights, pornography, drug use.
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33. Political Culture: Persistence of Conflict
Belief in depravity of mankind means those in power are a threat to people’s rights.
The Constitution was designed to curb the darker side of human nature. (“If men were angels, no government would be necessary.”)
Society so tumultuous that democracy is impossible.
contentious people
individualism
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34. Cultural clashes in America -- A battle over values.
The Culture War
Cultural clashes in America -- A battle over values.
Two cultural “camps” defined by James Davison Hunter:
Orthodox camp
Usually consists of fundamentalist Protestants and evangelical Christians
Believes that moral values are derived from the commands of God or the laws of nature
Perceives morality as clear, unchanging, and independent of personal preferences
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35. Cultural clashes in America -- A battle over values.
The Culture War
Cultural clashes in America -- A battle over values.
Two cultural “camps” defined by James Davison Hunter:
Progressive camp
Usually consists of liberal Protestants and people with no strong religious beliefs
(2) Believes that personal freedom is as important as, or more important than, traditional moral rules
(3) Perceives moral rules as complex, changeable, and dependent on individual preferences
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36. The Culture War Divisions are rooted in religious beliefs, but...
... conflict is over policy, not theology.
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.
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37. The Culture War Two views on importance of culture war to politics:
Morris Fiorina: Culture war is a “myth.”
Political leaders are polarized and media highlights this.
Most Americans occupy a middle position on policy issues.
b) Alan Abramowitz: Culture war is real.
People more likely to choose party affiliations based on moral issues.
Growing percentage of Americans are politically engaged.
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