Chapter 4 American Political Culture. Political Culture Political culture is a patterned and...

Chapter 4Chapter 4American American Political Political CultureCulture

Political CulturePolitical Culture

Political culture Political culture is a patterned and is a patterned and sustained way of thinking about how sustained way of thinking about how politicalpolitical and and economiceconomic life ought to life ought to be carried out.be carried out.

Copyright © 2011 CengageCopyright © 2011 Cengage

Alexis de Tocqueville wrote Democracy in America, a profound analysis of our political culture, p. 78.

The Granger Collection

Political CulturePolitical 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.

Political CulturePolitical Culture


The government of the U.S. is supported by a political culturepolitical 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).

Political Culture: Basic common beliefsPolitical Culture: Basic common beliefs


1.1. LibertyLiberty

• Americans cherish freedom and rights• Core value of the American Revolution.• “…life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness…”

2. EqualityEquality

• “…all men are created equal…”• Equal treatment under the law.• Equality of opportunity (economic and political)

AMERICANISM: The belief that Americans consider themselves bound by common values and common hopes.



3. Individualism3. Individualism

• Importance and dignity of the individual.• Individuals have rights and responsibilities• ““Rugged individualism”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 4. Democracy

• Government should be based on consent of the governed

• Majority rule with protection of individual rights.



5. Rule of Law5. Rule of Law

• Government is based on laws which should apply equally, impartially and justly.

• Opposite of rule by an individual rule by an individual (following the whims of a dictator).

6. Civic Duty6. Civic Duty

• Sense of responsibility to community.• Most Americans help out when they can.



EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITYEQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITYVS.VS.

EQUALITY OF RESULTSEQUALITY OF RESULTS

• Belief that the free-enterprise system is generally fair Belief that the free-enterprise system is generally fair and efficient.and efficient.

• Belief that if everyone has the opportunity to get Belief that if everyone has the opportunity to get ahead, then higher earnings for harder workers is fair.ahead, then higher earnings for harder workers is fair.

• There is a moral connection between effort and There is a moral connection between effort and reward.reward.

• Do not support wealth redistribution to correct Do not support wealth redistribution to correct economic inequality.economic inequality.

• Strong opposition to affirmative action (preferential Strong opposition to affirmative action (preferential treatment to correct inequality).treatment to correct inequality).

Political Culture: CharacteristicsPolitical Culture: Characteristics


1.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.

Political Culture: CharacteristicsPolitical 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 (orthodoxorthodox) believe in an unchanging standard of right and wrong.• ProgressiveProgressive Christians and secular Americans adhere to an individualistic understanding of morality.

CURRENT DIVISIVE ISSUESabortion, sexual morality, gay rights, pornography, drug use

Political Culture: PatriotismPolitical Culture: Patriotism

83% of Americans say they are “extremely proud” or “very proud” to be an American.

Pew Research Center, June, 2010

Comparing Political CulturesComparing Political Cultures

• The U.S. has a unique political culture in comparison to other nations.

• PATRIOTISM: PATRIOTISM: 83% of Americans are patriotic compared to 21% of Germans.

• INDIVIDUALISMINDIVIDUALISM: Majority of Europeans believe economic success is determined by forces beyond their control. Americans have strong belief in individualism.

• CLASS CONSCIOUSNESSCLASS CONSCIOUSNESS: Americans have little compared to Europeans. Most Americans consider themselves to be “middle class.”

Comparing Political CulturesComparing Political Cultures

• MORALITY: 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.

Comparing Political CulturesComparing Political CulturesEconomic BeliefsEconomic 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.

Political Culture: Changing ValuesPolitical Culture: Changing Values

1800’sIndividualism 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.

Political Culture: Changing ValuesPolitical Culture: Changing Values

Late 1900sIndustrial 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?


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

Mistrust in GovernmentMistrust in Government


Mistrust in GovernmentMistrust in Government


In recent years, people’s mistrustmistrust in government officials has increasedincreased and confidence in officials’ responsiveness to the popular will has declined.

Figure 4.2 Trust in the Federal Figure 4.2 Trust in the Federal Government, 1958-2004Government, 1958-2004


p. 90

Source: University of Michigan, The American National Election Studies.


Gallup: Trust in the Federal Gallup: Trust in the Federal Government, 1992 – 2010Government, 1992 – 2010

Mistrust of GovernmentMistrust of Government

Pew Research, 2011Pew Research, 2011

• Our trust in our systemsystem of government has notnot declined.

• 52% say members are the problem, the system works fine.

• 38% say members have good intentions, the system is broken.


Source: Gallup Poll

POLITICAL EFFICACYPOLITICAL 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.



Civil society Civil society is that collection of is that collection of private, voluntary groups that – private, voluntary groups that – independent of the government and the independent of the government and the commercial market – make human commercial market – make human cooperation easier and provide ways of cooperation easier and provide ways of holding the government accountable for holding the government accountable for its actions.its actions.


• Reasons for decline in trust: Wilson, pp. 89-90. Read carefully.

• Of what use is this information:For elected officials and

other politicians?For citizens?For political scientists?


Political TolerancePolitical Tolerance


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.



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.

o Liberals dislike neo-Nazis and militia groups.o Conservatives dislike gays, atheists and communists.




Research does not show that liberals are more

tolerant than conservatives although

that is the popular opinion.




•Most Americans believe that the nation is too too tolerant of 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.



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.

Political Culture: Persistence of ConflictPolitical 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.

Political Culture: Persistence of ConflictPolitical 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 (“If men were angels, no government would be necessary.”)angels, no government would be necessary.”)

contentious people

individualismSociety so

tumultuous that democracy is impossible.

The Culture WarThe Culture War


Cultural clashes in America -- A battle over values.

Two cultural “camps” defined by James Davison Hunter:

Orthodox campOrthodox camp

(1) Usually consists of fundamentalist Protestants and evangelical Christians

(2) Believes that moral values are derived from the commands of God or the laws of nature

(3) Perceives morality as clear, unchanging, and independent of personal preferences



Cultural clashes in America -- A battle over values.

Two cultural “camps” defined by James Davison Hunter:

Progressive camp Progressive camp

(1) 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



Culture war differs from political disputes in three ways:

a) Money is not at stake.b) Compromises are almost impossible.Compromises are almost impossible.c) Conflict is more profound.

Divisions are rooted in religious beliefs, but...

... conflict is over policy, not theology.



Two views on importance of culture war to politics:

a)Morris Fiorina: Culture war is a “myth.”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 Growing percentage of Americans are politically

engaged.engaged.

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