American Political Culture

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American Political Culture
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Administrative Matters

• SI Hours
• Seating Chart
• Statement of Student Responsibility
• Papers Due Thursday
• Book on Reserve

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What Is Political Culture?

• Collection of beliefs and values about the
  justification and operation of a countrys
  government

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Populism

• Popular Sovereignty
• Equality
• ? Majority Rule

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Liberalism

• Popular Sovereignty
• Equality
• LIBERTY
• ? Majority Rule w/ caveats

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Populism v. Liberalism

• Populism
• Unfettered majority rule

• Liberalism
• Majority rule the norm BUT fear of majority
  tyranny requires some limits

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Why classical liberalism?

• Founding fathers middle class
• Fleeing oppression
• Seeking economic opportunity
• Little common heritage / great diversity
• Economic opportunity plentiful
• Lots of land!

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Implications of classical liberalism

• Liberal democracy
• What does that look like?
• American dream
• Capitalism
• Religiosity

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How Has Liberalism Persisted?

• Socialization
• Diversity/Self-Selection
• Feedback Loop

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All Liberalism, All the Time?

• No!
• Populism
• Civic Republicanism (Communitarianism)

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Values to Ideology

• Values reflect general world-view, implications
  beyond the political
• Ideology is a cohesive set of beliefs about the
  role of government

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Shared Political Culture ?Shared Ideology
Statism
Libertarianism
Conservatism
Modern Liberalism
Political Culture Shared Roots
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Example Equality

• All Americans tend to value equality, but . . .
• Do we mean equality of opportunity or equality of
  outcome?
• Is equality measured by individuals or by groups?
• Is equality more important than liberty, or vice
  versa? When can government interfere w/ liberty
  to promote equality?