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)?