American Political Values
• What is political culture?
– Collection of beliefs and values about the
justification and operation of a country’s
government.
• What are some examples of American political
values?
– Liberalism (Individual Freedom)
– Individual Responsibility (Civic
Republicanism)
– Equality
– Religious Faith?
• Unlike other countries, political culture is the
basis for US society.
American Political Values
• Political Values in a Multicultural Society
– Multiculturalism
– Non-Hispanic whites a minority by 2060
• Do you think that the demographic changes
depicted in the next slide will/have
change(d) American political culture?
• Many contend that there is no single
American political culture, but a series of
sub-cultures based on race, class, sexual
orientation, religious affiliation, or region.
Immigration and Economics/Culture
• Studies focused on economic impact of
immigration are mixed:
- Impact on wages, costs of products, state and local
governments, hospitals etc.
• There is also a question of whether current
waves of immigrants is eradicating American
political culture.
- Based on nature of Latino immigrants and
proximity of Latin America to US.
- Fear/hostility toward immigrants is nothing new
in US-fueled by state of economy.
Immigration Opinions
• I-Clicker: Immigration has an overall positive
impact on New Mexico’s economy.
A) Agree
B) B) Disagree
• I-Clicker: Do you believe that continued
external migration is good or bad for the
political culture of the nation?
A) Good for the Nation
B) Bad for the Nation
Diversity-Culture Paradox
• Contrast in US between social diversity and
general agreement in our political value system.
• U.S. is more diverse in regard to race, ethnicity,
and religious affiliation than most countries, yet
has shown greater levels of agreement on
fundamental political principles than in most
countries.
What explains this trend?
• Impact of land, lack of class-based society,
motivated protestant-ethnic based values.
• Self-selection process provides unique population.
• American society was founded on political culture.
Rugged Individualism
• Hudson argues that the political value of
individuality has become a challenge to
American democracy.
• Hudson and Toqueville before him argue
that individuality can eradicate civic virtue
if taken too far.
• Toqueville believed that “Habits of the
Heart” among Americans helped to
prevent radical individualism. Today’s
scholars refer to this as Social Capital.
Social Capital
• Lively civic participation in both governmental
and non-governmental associations with other
citizens in the community. Based on social
networks and social trust.
• Tocqueville was very impressed by the level of
social capital in the US during the 1830’s. He
saw ordinary citizens discussing political and
community matters with not only other citizens
but elites in local fraternal organizations and
political associations alike. Would you classify
today’s society the same way?
Decline in Social Capital
• Bowling Alone- Book that claims Americans
are less trustful of others today, and less
active in organizations and associations with
others.
• What are some causes for this trend?
– Radical Individualism made more readily available
through technology (internet, TV, games) and
suburbanization; gated communities.
– The media’s overrepresentation of negative news
which sells but causes people to be more fearful of
society.
– Politics based on special interests.
Impact of Technology
• http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/digitalnati
on/view/
• Dumbest Generation?
• Impact on Relationships
• Do you agree with Hudson and Putnam?
• Small Group Activity
• What is the impact of technology on our
society and relationships?
• Are Putnam and Hudson accurate in their
assessment that technology has led to
increased individualism and eradicated
social capital?
• Do you believe that the heavy reliance on
digital technology has made you the
dumbest generation ever?
• What are some consequences of this trend?
– Decreased participation rates-Putnam finds
that decreased social capital trends over
time parallels our lower rates of voting.
– Public policy focuses narrowly on individual
interests and not on the public good (failing
education system).
Low Stakes Assignment
• Please list the two components of Social
Capital as defined by Putnam, and
provide an example of how social capital
has declined over time.