Unit II American Political Culture

1. Unit IIAmerican Political Culture

2. The meaning and unique qualities of American Political Culture • What is political culture? consistent set of views as to the policies that government ought to pursue; what government should be like; the IDEAL America! (not reality)

3. Persistence of Democratic Institutions in American CANNOT be explained by: • Our unique Constitution (it’s been stolen!) • Physical advantages of our country (it helps!)

4. Other things we must consider: • Customs of our people or traditions • Examples? How are we unique? • “Moral and intellectual characteristics” de Tocqueville • Americans are more industrious • Americans are more individualistic • Americans believe they can change their station in life • Political Culture

5. Definition of Political Culture • The inherited set of beliefs, attitudes, and opinions that Americans SHARE about how their government OUGHT to operate. • Example: Americans believe in political equality but not economic equality • NOT the same as political ideology!

6. What is political ideology? • The philosophical differences between people about what the role of government ought to be regarding policy • Examples: • Liberal • Conservative • Populist • Libertarian • Etc…

7. Four Elements that make up American Political Culture • Liberty: we should all be able to do what we want as long as no one gets hurt • Equality: equal political opportunity • We DO NOT want economic equality! • Democracy: officials are accountable to the people whom they serve • Civic Duty: people have an obligation to participate in the political process be cause they have a right to do so!

8. How do we know that Americans share these core beliefs? • Inferred by the books we read (buy) • Speeches we hear (political) • Slogans we respond to • Political choices we make • Observations of foreigners • Opinion Polls

9. How do we explain behaviors that are inconsistent with our political culture? • Self interest (our BELIEFS remain the same, our behaviors do not) • Social circumstances (might not be “cool” for everyone to really be equal ) • We believe in equality, don’t always act on it • Religious discrimination? • Cliques? • Beliefs important as a change agent • Our ideals have resulted in changed behavior • Voting Rights • Equal Pay

10. If there is agreement on certain political values, why have we had so much political conflict? *The conflict has been over specific policies, not values. • Historians disagree about which values we really share, or to what degree • Americans interpret the values as they pertain to their individual circumstances

11. Most consistent evidence of a Political Culture • Americanism, American Way of Life, UnAmerican Activities • Rarely have this type of bonding in other nations • Can’t be un French, un Canadian, or un Norwegian • No Saudi Way of Life • No other nation seems to share this need for a national bond • We don’t share a common ethnicity, race, religion, or national origin, so created this as our bond

12. American Economic System • Support free enterprise, see limits in market • Prefer equality of opportunity, not results • Shared commitment to economic individualism and self reliance • Willing to help only the truly needy; elderly and disabled • Individualistic view of social policy (we want to choose who we help) • The responsibility for financial success rests with the individual

13. Distinctiveness of American Political Culture (Political Systems) • Comparison to Sweden (more deferential than participatory) • Vote, but do not otherwise participate • Defer to gov and experts, don’t argue or protest • Rarely challenge gov in court; almost no lawsuits • Believe in doing “what is best” for the whole, rather than gov providing what people want • Value equality more than liberty • Value harmony and social obligations more than anything else; need to get along and be agreeable

14. Comparison with Japan (political) • Value good relations with co-workers, must get along with others • Emphasis on group decision-making • Value preserving social harmony • Display respect for hierarchy (boss, gov, ancestors) • Sensitive to needs of others(at cost to self) • Want to avoid conflict at all costs • Reach decisions through discussion and compromise rather than an application of the rules/laws

15. Americans • Emphasis on: • Individualism • Competition • Equality (political) • Following the rules/laws • Treating others fairly • More assertive of rights (even if aren’t sure what they are) • Stronger sense of : • Civic Duty • Civic Competence • Obligation to be active in one’s community • Can rectify “bad laws”… Can fight city Hall! • Confidence in political institutions (trust) • National Pride

16. Over-generalizing and Stereotyping • Misleading to think that we can understand a nation’s political system as only the result of their laws, economy, and physical circumstances • Very difficult to generalize about political cultures in nations which have a variety of racial, ethnic, & religious groups

17. Economic Systems • Sweden compared to America: • They believe more in equal pay and limit top incomes • They believe their should be a lower ratio of income between workers and executives • Americans are less likely to believe that government should be involved in income equity No Need to compare US and Japan in terms of Economics; we are virtually identical!

18. Cultural Differences = Political Differences

19. The Sources of Political Culture in America • Historical Roots: • American Revolution: equality! • Constitution: our effort to balance personal liberty with social control • Americans obsessed with assertion and maintenance of our rights • Americans acted out of suspicion of government and devotion to individualism

20. Revolution of 1800 • First test of our democracy/political culture: Federalists (Adams) V. Democratic-Republicans (Jefferson) • Jefferson accused Federalists of subverting Constitution (Alien and Sedition Act) • Hamilton/Adams thought D-R would turn country over to France • Civil War did not occur; peaceful transfer of power • Role of opposition parties legitimized; peaceful, orderly transfer of power possible

21. Legal-sociological Factors • Constitutional permitted wide-spread participation (voting) • No national religion • prohibited by Constitution • Wide-spread, diverse immigration ensured there would be none

22. Religion • Religious diversity was inevitable & led to conflict • With no common religion, common political culture is difficult to create

23. Conflict between Puritan Tradition and Catholic Church • Differences: • Religious practices • Regulation of manners and morals • Choice of political party • Reflected in struggle over Prohibition

24. American political culture is dominated by Puritanism (Protestantism) • Five “ethics” • Hard work • Save money • Obey the law (human and God) • Do good work (charity) • Embrace “Puritan Ethic” Work=Happiness=Heaven

25. Churches offered opportunity to develop/practice political skills • Protestants are organized along congressional lines • Churches were controlled by the members (popular sovereignty) • Churches are like mini political systems • A participant political culture was made easier by the existence of a participant religious culture

26. Family • Political culture is transmitted primarily by the family • Despite erosion of family unit (divorce, single parents, etc…), family still has largest role • Other sources are significant; just not as important as family • Family determines identification w/ political party almost exclusively

27. Family • American children experience greater freedom and equality which shapes political culture • Have a say in leisure activities • Have own phone, tv, computer, car, etc… • Have ability to decide what to purchase w/ own $ • Have influence on family vacations, meals, etc…

28. Absence of Class Consciousness • Results from: • Religious and ethnic diversity (no “ruling class”) • An individualistic philosophy (it’s all about me!) • Fragmented political authority (federalism) • Most people think of themselves as workers rather than management • Most Americans think they are middle class • Even those who are unemployed do not think or act in terms of their current economic situation • Americans still believe they can succeed if they work hard • US is only large, industrialized nation w/ no significant socialist party or movement

29. Mistrust of Government • Evidence of the increase: • 1979 Speech by Pres. Jimmy Carter • Speech about the recession/inflation • Blamed Americans’ attitude for the economic downturn • “American Malaise” • Growing disrespect for government

30. 1958-1980’s increasing mistrust • Perceived that the number of “crooks in gov. increased (Nixon, Agnew, Rostenkowski, Kennedy(Teddy), Traficanti, etc…) • Government appears to be run for the benefit of a few big interests (NRA, oil, AMA, etc…) • Lots of tax $ seem to be wasted

31. Cases for Mistrust • Watergate • Vietnam • Civil Rights Movement (violence by gov) • Dramatic increase in crime rate (drugs) • Assassination Rate (JFK, RFK, MLK, etc…) • Massive number of riots and campus demonstrations • 2nd highest rate of inflation in US History! (up to 25% in some States; about 17% nation-wide)

32. Necessary to view mistrust in context • We mistrust the leaders and politics, but NOT our system of government • Current level of mistrust is the norm; 1950’s had unusual confidence • Mistrust was shared w. other institutions • Mistrust static since 1980’s (slight increase in 2002-03) • Level of mistrust in 1990’s? • Level of mistrust in 2000’s ?

33. Summary • No loss of confidence in Americans themselves or our system of government • We are still #1; but gov……… • America still best place to live (according to Americans) • People less ready to support leaders and their policies • More ready to believe in scandalous rumors • More cynical • Less likely to join political parties • More likely to join interest group

34. Political Efficacy • A citizens’ capacity to understand and influence political events • Two types: • Internal: confidence in one’s own ability to understand and take part in political affairs • External: a belief that the system will respond to what citizens do (protest=gov action) • Levels of internal efficacy constant since 1950’s

35. Political Efficacy • Level of external efficacy has dropped a great deal since the 1950’s • Why? • Conclusion: • American political efficacy still higher than Europe (and most of the rest of the world, too!) • Americans are probably not more alienated, just more realistic than in the past

36. Political Tolerance • Crucial component in democracy • Democracy in US would fail if: • Unpopular speakers were shouted down and prevented from speaking • People supported gov censorship of newspapers or other media (internet!) • Peaceful demonstrations were routinely broken up by mobs or gov’t • Losing candidates did not allow winners to take office (hello—Al Gore!)

37. Tolerance • People do not need to be perfectly tolerant • Everyone has some prejudice • No way to remove all stereotyping

38. Levels of American Tolerance • Most Americans are tolerant in the abstract--- we believe in equality, don’t always act on beliefs • Most Americans would dent rights to some one else in a concrete case • Community leaders, judges, lawyers are more tolerant

39. Average American’s Tolerance • Willing to allow people they don’t agree with to speak, write, protest, run for office, etc… • Has become more tolerant since the 1980’s • Is willing to with hold political liberty or equality from some group or individual

40. Why do unpopular groups survive? • Most people don’t act on their beliefs • There is usually no consensus on who to persecute • Courts are sufficiently insulated from public opinion. They protect even the most extreme groups rights.

41. Conclusion • We cannot take political liberty for granted; it can be taken away • No group should pretend to be perfectly tolerant