POL 111 -- Political Culture, Political Ideology, Public Opinion

7/30/2019 POL 111 -- Political Culture, Political Ideology, Public Opinion

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Political Culture and Public

Opinion


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The Difference

Political Culture: a distinctive and patterned way ofthinking about how political and economic life

ought to be carried out.

Broadly shared

Fairly stable over time

Political Ideology: generational views about

policies the government should pursue.

Way of thinking about the goals (ends) of government

Public Opinion: What people think about specific

issues at specific times.

Varies across individuals

Varies over time.


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America's Unique Political Culture

It means something to be American.

Strong attachment to countryVery patriotic.

Proud to be from here.

Willing to fight


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What Makes the US Unique?

LibertyGeneral right to do as we please as long as it doesn't

interfere with/hurt others.

General fear of government taking away freedoms.Trust in government decline in 1970s


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EqualityEquality of opportunity (high in the US): a great

commitment to.

Equality of condition (refers to outcomes): level theplaying fieldThis is not as highly valued in the US, the commitment is

lower than it is with equality of opportunity.


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Democracy: an increasingly strong commitment to

personal participation in government.


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Civic Duty: Voting, for example. Typically, 45-

55% turnout. If you ask people in a phone interview for a poll, people's responses

indicate turnout would have around 70%.Americans feel an obligation to be involved.

We feel we can make a difference (civic competence).

Turnout is relatively low though in the US.

Only around 50% of eligible voters vs. 80% in other nations.

Participation in campaigns, meetings and general civicengagement is as high or higher than elsewhere.


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Individual Responsibility: responsible for our

own actions and well-being (rugged individualism)Everyone gets a chance (again, equal opportunity) but

from there everyone is responsible for themselves.

Religiosity: US is more religious than other

nations.


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Political Efficacy: capacity to understand and

influence political events. Internal: the ability to understand and take part in the system; to

know you can do something to influence. [To understand andparticipate]

External: the ability to make the system respond; to believe what

you do makes a difference [When you participate, the system

responds]


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Political Tolerance: to allow for voices we

disagree with into the discussionTolerance typically has increased over time.


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Sources of Political Culture

Revolution and mistrust of centralized authority

Protestant work ethic

Culture war:Socially orthodox: places morality above liberty

Socially progressive: places liberty over morality


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Public Opinion

Gender Gap: women have tended to be moreliberal.

Social Class: Labor Unions tend to be liberal as do

those from lower income backgrounds.

Race: African Americans are more Democratic.

Region: The switch in the South following thepassage of civil rights legislation.


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Societal Cleavages

Reinforcing Cleavages: Divisions between groups

in society fall along same lines.All people of one race are the same religion, live in the

same region, have the same level of education, etc.

Cross-Cutting Cleavages: Divisions that we see in

society don't fall along the same lines.

Documents

POL 111 -- Political Culture, Political Ideology, Public Opinion