Political Science: An Introduction

1. Political Science: An Introduction Fourteenth Edition Chapter 6 Political Culture Roskin | Cord | Medeiros | Jones

2. Political Culture and Public Opinion • Political culture differs from public opinion. • The study of political culture focuses on deep beliefs and values toward the political system. • Public opinion is concerned with immediate views of leaders and public policies. • Public opinion that is held for a long time can turn into political culture. • Both, political culture and public opinion, however, can be tracked over time

3. Political Culture and Participation Political competence: Knowing how to accomplish something politically. Political efficacy: Feeling that one has at least a little political input (opposite: feeling powerless). However, people have become more cynical or untrusting and suspicious, especially of government. Watergate, war and inflation led to a sharp decline in trust in government

4. The Decay of Political Culture 6.2 Explain how a country's political culture can change over time. The United States has also experienced a decay in political culture following the Iraq war and the 2010 bank bailouts. The decay of American political culture is related to the development of the polarizing culture wars in the United States between liberals and conservatives . Political thinkers are concerned about US stability if polarization continues to grow. New reg. Rep voters 7.19% increase past 10 years New reg. Dem voters 8.61% increase past 10 years No Party Affiliation 47.32% increase past 10 years

5. Participation in America 6.2 Explain how a country's political culture can change over time. Sleeping Dog Theory – leaders in a democracy know that people, for the most part, pay little attention to politics. It’s when scandal, unemployment, inflation and war awake the public that they start paying attention. Politicians work to keep the public passive and quiet. Rule of Anticipated Reaction – Politicians form policies based on how they think the public will react.

6. The Decay of Political Culture 6.2 Explain how a country's political culture can change over time. This raises the question of whether or not the growth of distrust is bad for democracy. Higher education levels are making citizens more aware of this gap between promises and actions and they are much more willing to criticize. Consequently the decline in political culture is really the growth of critical citizens…which can be positive keeping government in check.

7. Elite and Mass Subcultures 6.3 Distinguish between elite and mass political subcultures. When it comes to mass versus elites, we know that elites tend to be much more interested in and likely to participate in politics. This tendency increases with elite education and leads to increased levels of political competence and efficacy. The poor are far less likely to participate, in part because they lack confidence, skills, and feel powerless.

8. Elite and Mass Subcultures 6.3 Distinguish between elite and mass political subcultures. This leads to an irony of democratic politics. Democracy allows everyone to participate equally. Yet only a few people choose to participate. Government policy responds to those interests. So democratic government is not government by the people; rather, it's government by the people who choose to have their voices heard. Parties however, aggregate the interests of small subcultures providing tangible benefits in an effort to get those less interested and knowledgeable to vote.

9. Minority Subcultures 6.4 Explain the effects of sharply distinct minority subcultures within a nation. Minority subcultures can form in politics when a group has strong enough differences from the mainstream culture. African Americans form a minority subculture in the United States. Not all subcultures have to be ethnic, though. Subcultures can be expected to have different voting habits

10. Political Socialization 6.5 List with examples the main agents of political socialization. Nobody is born with political values; rather, they are things citizens learn over time. The process of learning these values is called political socialization. Different groups influence which values we learn and some have a greater effect than others.

11. The Agents of Socialization • The family • Parents are the most influential and most children grow up adopting the same political values as their parents. • Strongest source of political socialization • Often other attempts at socialization will fail if they are at odds with the beliefs of the children's parents. • Kids who felt like they had a voice in decisions at home growing up have a greater sense of political efficacy as adults.

12. The Agents of Socialization • The school • Values are also taught at schools where it is done deliberately. • History is a tool used to inculcate students with feelings of pride and patriotism. The more education they have, the greater their sense of commitment to the community.

13. The Agents of Socialization • Peer groups • Peer groups, friends, and playmates. This influence is increasing as the traditional family structure declines. • The mass media • The mass media is also gaining influence, but many fear that influence is negative. • Robert Putnam argues that watching TV makes people passive and unlikely to participate in community and group activities.

14. The Agents of Socialization • The government • The government; parades, flags, et cetera, all serve to instill political values.