Political Culture and Ideology

Chapter 7

Core Questions

1. What are the dominant values of American political culture?

2. How and why are American citizens more satisfied with their democracy than citizens of other countries?

3. In what ways have our political values been affected by historical developments and by economic and technological growth?

4. What are the key philosophical assumptions of liberalism, conservatism, socialism, and libertarianism?

5. Why are Americans not deeply ideological?

6. What is the relationship between ideology and tolerance?

Chapter 7 Outline

A. Introduction to the American political culture

B. Ideology and attitudes toward government (family, schools, media, workplace)

C. Ideology and the American people

D. Ideology and tolerance

Political Culture

The widely shared beliefs, values, and norms concerning the relationship of citizens to government and to one another.

Natural Rights

The rights of all people to dignity and worth; also called human rights.

Majority Rule

Government according to the expressed preferences of the majority.

Popular Sovereignty

A belief that ultimate power reside in the people.

American Dream

The widespread belief that individual initiative and hard work can bring economic success, and that the United States is a land of opportunity.

Capitalism

An economic system characterized by private property, competitive markets, economic incentives, and limited government involvement in the production and pricing of goods and services.

Monopolies

Large corporations or firms that dominate their industries and are able to artificially fix prices and discourage competition.

Antitrust Legislation

Federal laws (starting with the Sherman Act of 1890) that try to prevent monopolies from dominating an industry and restraining trade.

Ideology

One’s basic beliefs about political values and the role of government.

Liberalism

A belief in the positive uses of government to bring about justice and equality of opportunity.

Conservatism

A belief that limited government ensures order, competitive markets, and personal opportunity.

Socialism

An economic and governmental system based on public ownership of the means of production and exchange.

Libertarianism

An ideology that cherishes individual liberty and insists on a sharply limited government, promoting a free-market economy, a noninterventionist foreign policy, and an absence of regulation in the moral and social spheres.

Satisfaction with the Way Democracy Works

United StatesCanadaGermanyIcelandThailandCosta RicaChileFranceDominican RepublicUnited KingdomJapanIndiaSpainVenezuelaTaiwanHungryMexicoChina

Satisfied Dissatisfied64% 27%62 2455 2754 2354 2752 2543 3143 3240 3840 4335 3232 4331 3028 5925 1817 5017 67Na Na

Ideologies

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%Extremely Liberal

Liberal

Slightly Liberal

Moderate

Slightly Conservative

Conservative

Extremely Conservative