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POLITICAL CULTURE

This article explores the paradox of diversity and unity in American political culture, discussing the values widely shared by American citizens such as liberty, egalitarianism, individualism, laissez-faire, and populism. It also examines the elements that make individuals Americans, the consensus on basic political beliefs, and the critiques of unified political culture. The defense of a unified, coherent political culture is supported by comparing American beliefs to those of citizens from other nations.

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POLITICAL CULTURE

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  1. POLITICAL CULTURE • Paradox: diversity and unity • Ethnic and religious heterogeneity • Relative homegeneity of political beliefs (Samuel Huntington and others have said)

  2. What is the American political culture?/set of values widely shared by American citizens? • 1. Liberty (freedom – see first amendment: freedom speech, religion, assembly) – freedom “from” • 2. Egalitarianism (Declaration of Independence – “all men created equal”, but equality of opportunity not outcome

  3. 3. Individualism – related to #1 (liberty) – individuals should be free to get ahead on their own, aversion to control by government (distrust of government, particularly central government) • 4. Laissez faire (both in government and in markets – leave citizens and businesses alone)

  4. 5. Populism – “government of, for, by the people – (Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, also Pat Buchanan, Ronald Reagan – “get government off the backs of the people”

  5. Elements of American political culture – What makes us Americans? • Individuals have rights • Individuals are equal under law • Gov’t must be limited to protect rights • State as instrument for serving individuals • Rule of Law/Constitutionalism • Joining • Faith (despite separation of church & state)

  6. Consensus theory: Americans share a consensus on basic political beliefs • DeTocqueville (French – 1830s) – social and political equality • Louis Hartz (American – 1950s) – the dark side of the ‘liberal consensus’ –dangers of unanimity of political thought

  7. Critique of Unified political culture/consensus theory • 1. Alternative philosophies/beliefs • (e.g. socialism, communism) • 2. Inegalitarian beliefs – white supremacism, etc. • 3. Different cultures within American states, regions – Daniel Elazar (1970s): • Traditionalist, Moralist, and individualist cultures

  8. Defense of unified, coherent political culture • Compare political beliefs of American citizens to beliefs of citizens from other nations • This shows there is a clear commonality of beliefs that distinguishes us from other nations, including other advanced industrial democracies

  9. Percentage who agree: “Government should provide everyone with a guaranteed basic income.” • U.S. 29% • Australia 44% • West Germany 61% • U.K. 64% • Netherlands 65% • Italy 81%

  10. Percent who agree that “government should provide a decent standard of living for the unemployed” • U.S. 21% • Australia 38% • Netherlands 50% • U.K. 65% • West Germany 66% • Italy 68%

  11. Percent who agree “The way things are in my country, people like me and my family have a good chance of improving our standard of living.” • U.S. 72% • Australia 61% • Italy 45% • Germany 40% • Britain 37%

  12. Sources of liberal political culture • Political socialization • Self selection of immigrants • Institutions create culture (Government designed by Founding Fathers to be inefficient - this makes people distrust government. Government not as “generous” here as in some other countries – people have to make it more on their own – fosters individualism.

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