Ap Gov
Chapter 4 Political Culture and Ideology
Key Chapter Questions 1. What are the dominant values of the American political culture? Also, what does political scientist Robert Putnam mean by Òsocial capitalÓ? Finally, how and why are U.S. citizens more satisfied with their democracy than are the citizens of other countries? In what ways have our political values been affected by historical developments and by economic and technological growth? What are the key philosophical assumptions of liberalism, conservatism, socialism, environmentalism, and libertarianism? Why are Americans not deeply ideological? What is the nature of the relationship between ideology and tolerance? What role did ideology play in the 2000 elections?
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Chapter Outline I. Introduction/The American political culture A. PutnamÕs concept of Òsocial capitalÓÑloss of social trust 1. Explains declining level of trust and confidence in political institutions 2. Not all political scientists agree with PutnamÕs assessment of declining social capital 3. Political cultureÑunderlying beliefs, assumptions, attitudes, and patterns of behavior people have toward government and politics. a. Involves political participation, rights, and liberties, views of politicians/government b. How we participate does make a difference to political culture B. Shared values 1. The values and beliefs of the American political culture are grounded in classical liberalism Ð philosophical tradition stresses the importance of the individual and of freedom, equality, private property, limited government, and popular consent 2. Liberty Ð most revered value in American political culture 3. Equality a. Americans have always believed in social equality b. Equality also refers to political equality, the idea that every individual has a right to equal protection under the law and equal voting power; while political equality is a goal, it has not always been a reality c. Equality encompasses the idea of equal
Key Chapter Questions 1. What are the dominant values of the American political culture? Also, what does political scientist Robert Putnam mean by Òsocial capitalÓ? Finally, how and why are U.S. citizens more satisfied with their democracy than are the citizens of other countries? In what ways have our political values been affected by historical developments and by economic and technological growth? What are the key philosophical assumptions of liberalism, conservatism, socialism, environmentalism, and libertarianism? Why are Americans not deeply ideological? What is the nature of the relationship between ideology and tolerance? What role did ideology play in the 2000 elections?
2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Chapter Outline I. Introduction/The American political culture A. PutnamÕs concept of Òsocial capitalÓÑloss of social trust 1. Explains declining level of trust and confidence in political institutions 2. Not all political scientists agree with PutnamÕs assessment of declining social capital 3. Political cultureÑunderlying beliefs, assumptions, attitudes, and patterns of behavior people have toward government and politics. a. Involves political participation, rights, and liberties, views of politicians/government b. How we participate does make a difference to political culture B. Shared values 1. The values and beliefs of the American political culture are grounded in classical liberalism Ð philosophical tradition stresses the importance of the individual and of freedom, equality, private property, limited government, and popular consent 2. Liberty Ð most revered value in American political culture 3. Equality a. Americans have always believed in social equality b. Equality also refers to political equality, the idea that every individual has a right to equal protection under the law and equal voting power; while political equality is a goal, it has not always been a reality c. Equality encompasses the idea of equal