American Political Culture Fitz-AP Gov. Warm-up: In what ways do Americans differ from Europeans?...
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Transcript of American Political Culture Fitz-AP Gov. Warm-up: In what ways do Americans differ from Europeans?...
American Political Culture
Fitz-AP Gov
Warm-up: In what ways do Americans differ from Europeans? (stereotypes encouraged)
What is political culture?
• Our beliefs, attitudes and opinions about how government OUGHT to operate.
Liberty• PROBABLY THE MOST
SIGNIFICANT• PRIDE IN BEING
“AMERICAN”• FEAR OF THINGS
“UNAMERICAN”• PEOPLE SHOULD DO
HAVE AS MUCH FREEDOM AS LONG AS THEY DON’T INTERFERE WITH OTHERS FREEDOM
Political Equality
• “One day the President/Queen/ was driving his car to a meeting. Because he was late, he was driving very fast. The police stopped the car. Finish the story:”
– President would NOT be reprimanded
– Queen would NOT be punished
– Most likely to say president would be fined or ticketed
Political Equality
• NOT ECONOMIC EQUALITY
• “ONE PERSON, ONE VOTE”
Economic Equality
Equality
Capitalism
Is the same as democracy in most peoples’ minds. Competition but fair competition.
Belief in meritocracy.Accept some inequality
There is only one social responsibility of business - to use its resources and engage in activities designed to increase its profits without deception or fraud.- Milton Friedman
False consciousness: everyone THINKS they are middle class
• Compare with Great Britain
• Pride in being a part of the labor class
Democracy
• LIMITED GOVERNMENT
• OFFICIALS SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE
Mistrust of government
• Centralization of power
• Federal system exacerbated by Vietnam, Watergate.
• Americans dislike “Washington” but like their Representative (“I’m fighting against Washington!”
Liberty
Individualism
• Rugged individualism vs. collectivism
Why do Americans love these characters?
Equality v. liberty:
• Real conflict= liberty and capitalism vs. equality associated with democracy.
Core Questions:
• Can people participate in democratic society on equal basis if economically disadvantaged?
• If not, to what extent should government intervene to mitigate this and attempt to even things out more?
Civic Duty (more talk than action)
• Jury duty• Ignorant of political affairs• Will go overseas to fight for
democracy but neglect areas of need
Dominant Aspects of PoliticalCulture continued
• Civic Duty (more talk than action)
• still fairly ignorant of political affairs
• Will go overseas to fight for democracy
Political efficacy
1)Internal efficacy:Ability to understand
political affairs. Fairly stable since
the 1950s. Far behind other
Western nations
Political efficacy
2) External efficacy: one’s belief that one can have animpact upon government.
How do we stack up to other Western nations?
Political pragmatism. Lots of independentvoters. “Vote for the person, not the party.”However, those who are ideological are morepolarized than ever.
How do we stack up to other Western nations?
Justice. Belief in the rule of law. “Government is of laws, not men.” Increasing distrust of theFederal Courts emerging.
Roe v. WadeBush v. Gore
•assertive & participatory.• more willing to bucktrends and disrupt the status quo.• individualism/competition• More religious.
Bothliberals and conservatives will usereligion to promote political agenda.
More on individualism
Americans…
vote less, but participate in other ways at local levels.
have more faith in their institutions than other nations
The Culture Wars
Progressive
• Personal freedom more important than tradition
• changing rules based on circumstances of modern life
• main-line Protestants and those with no strong religious beliefs; secular
Orthodox
• Morality important than self-expression with fixed
• God-given laws
• Orthodox associated with fundamentalist Protestants.
Left (progressive) or right (orthodox)?