Conservatism and Political
Participation
Lecture 6-3
Which of the following agents will have
the greatest effect on a person’s political
ideology and party ID?
a)
b)
c)
d)
Religion
Schools
Television
Family
Which of the following agents will have
the greatest effect on a person’s political
ideology and party ID?
a)
b)
c)
d)
Religion
Schools
Television
Family
The agents of political
socialization include all of the
following EXCEPT
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
community and peers.
high culture.
school.
family.
the mass media.
The agents of political
socialization include all of the
following EXCEPT
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
community and peers.
high culture.
school.
family.
the mass media.
Public opinion polls about politics
will be most reliable if they
a) survey only the people who are interested
in the subject.
b) are based on simple yes-or-no questions.
c) are conducted like a straw poll.
d) rely on random sampling.
Public opinion polls about politics
will be most reliable if they
a) survey only the people who are interested
in the subject.
b) are based on simple yes-or-no questions.
c) are conducted like a straw poll.
d) rely on random sampling.
Political socialization is
a) the ability to speak with people who identify with
a different political party than that with which you
identify.
b) one’s earliest memory of a president or other
political figure.
c) the complex process by which people acquire
national citizenship.
d) the complex process by which people acquire
their political values.
e) one’s identification with a political party or other
political group.
Political socialization is
a) the ability to speak with people who identify with
a different political party than that with which you
identify.
b) one’s earliest memory of a president or other
political figure.
c) the complex process by which people acquire
national citizenship.
d) the complex process by which people acquire
their political values.
e) one’s identification with a political party or other
political group.
A specific world view that is used
to form opinions about political
issues is called __________.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
political party
political opinion
political ideology
political socialization
political power
A specific world view that is used
to form opinions about political
issues is called __________.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
political party
political opinion
political ideology
political socialization
political power
Early American Conservatism
• Conservatism doubts and distrusts the
capacity of individuals to use
government to achieve a better life.
• Looking back to Edmond Burke,
conservatism emphasizes the value of
tradition and established practices as
guides for the future
Early American Conservatism
• John Adams and Alexander Hamilton
were leading figures in early American
conservatism
• They doubted the wisdom of too much
rule by the people and thought that
widely held property would produce a
natural aristocracy of talent
Early American Conservatism
• This aristocracy would be the governing
class. Early conservatives therefore
favored property qualifications for voting
Conservatism and the
Industrial Age
• Thinkers like Herbert Spencer and William
Grahm Sumner advocated laissez-faire
economics
• Their ideas led to social Darwinism, which
frowned on governmental aid to the needy
• Conservatism became the ideology of the
American business class and of those
aspiring to enter it
Contemporary Conservatism
• Mainly defined by opposing the Welfare
State
• By opposing modern liberal social
programs, conservatives have been
able to appeal to much of the middle
class
• Found mainly in the Republican party
Neoconservatism
• Some liberal have become neoconservatives who
believe that modern liberalism has overestimated the
ability of government to solve social and economic
problems
• They oppose many affirmative action programs and
believe that modern liberalism no longer speaker for
the common people but for a new class of affluent
reformers and those who benefit from their programs.
• Neoconservatives also want the government to play a
more assertive roles in foreign policy, using military
force when necessary.
Motives of political
participation
• Political efficacy
– Internal Belief that you can take part in
politics
– External Belief that the government will
respond to the citizenry
• Party identification
• Nonpolitical Motivation
– Economic - Fines
Forms of Participation
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Following and discussing Politics
Contacting Public Officials
Protests (legal/illegal)
Marches, Rallies, Riots
Boycotts
Picketing
Political Violence – Terrorism,
Assassination
Forms of Participation
• Politically Motivated Crimes
– Bribery Blackmail
• Civil Disobedience
Who participates?
• Generally, the more wealthy a person is
the more likely he or she is to
participate.
• Whites typically participate more that
non-white.
• Minorities, when adjusted for income,
participate more than whites
How Much do Americans
Participate in Political Life
• When looking solely at voting American
participate (ie vote) less often than
citizens in other democracies
• When looking at all forms of
participation, Americans participate as
much or more than citizen in other
democracies
Rationally of Political
Participation
• Rational actor model – citizen weights
the costs and benefits of participation
• Non-conventional participation may
prove to be a rational political strategy
for some groups and individuals
Most Americans
a)
b)
c)
d)
do not participate in politics.
vote in all elections.
are involved in civil disobedience.
participate in limited ways in politics.
Most Americans
a)
b)
c)
d)
do not participate in politics.
vote in all elections.
are involved in civil disobedience.
participate in limited ways in politics.
Which of the following statements
best expresses the reality of political
participation in the United States?
a) Political participation in the United States is
a lot lower than in other democratic
countries.
b) Voting turnout proves that Americans are
very active participants in politics.
c) Considering all forms of participation,
Americans are quite politically active.
d) Most Americans are complete activists when
it comes to politics.
Which of the following statements
best expresses the reality of political
participation in the United States?
a) Political participation in the United States is
a lot lower than in other democratic
countries.
b) Voting turnout proves that Americans are
very active participants in politics.
c) Considering all forms of participation,
Americans are quite politically active.
d) Most Americans are complete activists when
it comes to politics.
Who is more likely to participate
in American politics?
a) Young people more than people over fifty
b) Older people more than people under
twenty-five
c) Poor people more than wealthy people
d) Independents more than political party
members
Who is more likely to participate
in American politics?
a) Young people more than people over fifty
b) Older people more than people under
twenty-five
c) Poor people more than wealthy people
d) Independents more than political party
members
21) Which of the following groups would be LEAST likely
to vote in a typical election?
A) middle-class minority voters
B) poor white voters
C) rich white voters
D) poor minority voters
E) rich minority voters
21) Which of the following groups would be LEAST likely
to vote in a typical election?
A) middle-class minority voters
B) poor white voters
C) rich white voters
D) poor minority voters
E) rich minority voters