American Political Culture

1
American Political Culture

• Tocqueville democracy here
• Definition of political culture
• More political than economic equality ok
• Elements of the American View
• Liberty (rights), equality, Democracy
  (accountability), Civic Duty, Indiv.
  Responsibility
• Questions raised
• Why conflict?
• Consensus political values, from Locke, shared
• Conflict Liberal/Conservative view, not unified

2
Comparisons and Sources

• Political Comparisons Sweden, Japan
• Stronger sense of civic duty here than Germany,
  Mexico, Italy
• Economic Comparisons Sweden, Japan
• Religiously more than European
• Sources of Political Culture Historical
• Legal-Sociological
• No national religion, but cleavages
• Family influences, political ID
• Class consciousness mostly absent

3
The Culture War

• Battle over values among cultural classes
• Not political no , no solutions, conflict
• Private vs. public morality
• What kind of country should we have?
• Oversimplification two camps
• Orthodox fixed rules-God fundamentalist
  Protestants
• Progressives changing rules liberal
  Protestants/weak bel
• Between and within religious denominations

4
Mistrust, Efficacy, Tolerance

• Mistrust of government
• Mistrust leaders, but not selves or system
• Efficacy We Can make a difference
• Internal and External
• Not alienation, but realistic
• Tolerance Crucial to system
• Free flow of ideas
• Most allow, to an extent
• Unpopular groups most dont act on beliefs
• Conclusion Liberty cant be taken for granted.