we're cooked if she doesn't shut up

Five core American political values

1. Individualism 2. Equality of opportunity 3. Free enterprise system 4. Rule of law 5. Limited government

Individualism in American political culture

The belief that individuals should be responsible for themselves and for the decisions they make.

Author of 'Democracy in America' and year

Alexis de Tocqueville, after traveling through America in 1831-32.

Warning about individualism by Tocqueville

It could result in a 'tyranny of the majority,' impinging on the rights of the minority.

Comparison of U.S. government to other advanced democracies

The U.S. government is smaller, provides more limited social services, and Americans pay lower taxes than their counterparts in European advanced democracies.

Rule of law

The principle that no one, including public officials, is above the law.

Author of Federalist No. 51 and key point

James Madison; 'If men were angels, no government would be necessary.'

Entitlement programs

These programs are funded through payroll taxes and don't require demonstration of need

Need-based assistance programs

These programs involve a means test usually based on income.

Poverty threshold for a family of four in 2015

$24,600 annual family income.

AFDC and its criticism

Aid to Families with Dependent Children; it was criticized for cultivating dependency among families receiving benefits.

Percentage of AFDC recipients receiving benefits for 8+ years

Only 30%, contrary to claims about lifetime dependency.

PRWORA and its signing year

Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, signed in 1996 by Bill Clinton.

Changes made by PRWORA to welfare

It placed time limits on welfare assistance, added work requirements, and gave states more authority over administration of social welfare programs.

What is political socialization?

The lifelong process that shapes an individual's political ideology and attitudes through various experiences and influences.

What is the most important early contributor to political socialization?

Family - especially influential in shaping views about political figures, party identification, and political authority.

How do schools contribute to political socialization?

• Teach civics and government classes, Transmit norms about civic participation, Expose students to diverse viewpoints, Create opportunities for community involvement

What is the "generational effect"?

When people from the same generation are shaped politically by living through the same historical events (like Vietnam War, Great Depression, or financial crisis of 2008).

What is the "life-cycle effect"?

How a person's political priorities and views change based on their current stage in life (e.g., recent graduates focus on education costs while retirees prioritize Social Security).

What major events caused a significant drop in public trust in government?

The Vietnam War and Watergate affair, which reduced trust from 75% in 1965 to 45% in 1976.

How does civic engagement contribute to political socialization?

Helps develop skills in organizing, public speaking, fundraising, and interacting with officials; teaches group norms; influences individual belief systems.

How do millennials differ politically from older generations?

More socially liberal (nearly twice as likely to support same-sex marriage) but similarly conservative economically due to experiencing the 2008 financial crisis.

What is political ideology?

A coherent set of beliefs about government and politics.

What percentage of millennials voted for Trump in the 2016 election?

37% (while 63% voted for other candidates) - similar to the percentage that voted for Romney in 2012.

Globalization

Increasing interconnectedness of people, businesses, and countries through communication, travel, education, and trade.

Historical Context of Globalization

Although centuries old, globalization has accelerated in the 21st century due to modern networks.

Political Impact of Globalization

Blurs international and domestic boundaries, requiring policymakers to consider global actors and repercussions.

Challenge to U.S. Dominance

Global powers like China and Russia are asserting influence, reducing unipolar U.S. leadership.

China's Rise

Economic growth and military buildup to protect global interests.

Russia's Aggression

Actions like the 2014 Crimea invasion and Syrian support have worsened U.S.-Russia relations.

U.S. Global Struggle

The U.S. finds it difficult to spread democratic values while navigating global complexities.

Role of Countries in Globalization

Countries remain core actors, but non-state entities are increasingly influential.

Multinational Corporations (MNCs)

Firms like Nike and Amazon have global reach and profits rivaling national GDPs; U.S. regulates them domestically, but not abroad.

Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs)

Groups like Doctors Without Borders offer services, but can undermine governments or disrupt local economies.

Challenges from NGOs

Can reduce state legitimacy, harm local businesses, and clash with local agendas.

Free Trade

Seeks to grow the global economy by reducing trade barriers, but can harm domestic industries.

Criticism of Free Trade

May cause job losses and raise ethical concerns with authoritarian trade partners.

Bilateral Trade Agreements

Trade deals between two countries.

Regional Trade Agreements

Deals involving multiple nations, e.g., NAFTA boosted trade but displaced U.S. jobs.

Trump and TPP

In 2017, President Trump withdrew from the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Economic Effects of Globalization

Rise in service jobs, increased foreign investment, and cheaper goods for consumers.

Cultural Homogenization

Global brands threaten local traditions and cause fear of cultural loss.

Cultural Impact Example (Cultural Homogenization)

Mass-produced goods and global fast food chains undercut traditional crafts and eateries.

Globalization and Community Anxiety

Fear and isolation grow as communities struggle to maintain identity.

Security Risks of Globalization

Increased threats from terrorism, extremism, and international crime due to global connectivity.

Terrorism and the Internet

Groups like ISIS recruit and plan attacks online using platforms like the Dark Web.

Online Extremism

White supremacist groups use online chats to organise violence (e.g., Charlottesville 2017).

Global Crime Networks

Syndicates trade illegal goods online; agencies like the FBI and DEA work together to stop them.

Alexis de Tocqueville

French politician and historian best known for Democracy in America, which analysed the effects and dangers of democracy in the United States.

Purpose of Tocqueville's U.S. Visit

Travelled to America in 1831 to study the penal system but ended up analysing broader democratic structures and society.

Main Idea of Democracy in America

Democracy fosters equality but risks tyranny of the majority, social conformism, and loss of individual liberty.

Tyranny of the Majority

Situation where majority rule leads to oppression of minorities and stifling of dissent through law or social pressure.

Social Conformism

Pressure in democratic societies to think and act like the majority, leading to loss of freedom of thought and self-censorship.

Equality of Conditions

Tocqueville saw equality as a driving force in modern societies that reshaped social structures and individual aspirations.

Dangers of Equality

It can lead to centralisation of power, destruction of social ties, and a materialistic, atomised society.

Centralisation of State Power

With weakened intermediary institutions, the state becomes more powerful and oppressive, even in democratic systems.

Tocqueville's Dangers of Individualism

People become isolated, self-interested, and disengaged from civic life, making them vulnerable to manipulation.

Remedy to Individualism

Participation in civic associations and religious institutions helps maintain freedom and social cohesion.

Self-Interest Rightly Understood

Americans pursued public good through civic engagement, recognising it ultimately benefited them as individuals.

Civic Associations

Tocqueville admired Americans' tendency to form groups for political, social, and religious purposes, seeing them as a defence against tyranny.

Role of Religion

Organised religion counteracted materialism and individualism, encouraging higher moral aims and community life.

Soft Despotism

Tocqueville's term for a gentle yet total control by the state, where citizens trade liberty for comfort and become passive.

Appearance of Freedom

In soft despotism, people retain voting rights but are politically apathetic and dependent on the state.

Second Volume of Democracy in America

Published in 1839, focuses on the deeper psychological and social effects of democracy.

Tocqueville's Political Career

Tocqueville served in the French Assembly and supported the Party of Order, opposing Socialist attempts to form a social republic.

Tocqueville's Views on Colonialism

Criticised French assimilationist colonial model, preferred British indirect rule, yet supported colonisation for national interest.

The Old Regime and the French Revolution

Tocqueville's second major work; argued that changes leading to the Revolution had begun long before 1789.

Tocqueville's Death

Died in 1859 from tuberculosis, buried in Tocqueville Cemetery in Normandy.

Tocqueville's Legacy

Warned against democratic excesses, emphasised balance between liberty and equality, and stressed civic and religious life as stabilisers.

Democracy and information flow

Citizens need information about elected officials to hold them accountable; representatives need to know constituents' preferences

Public opinion

Sum of individual attitudes about government, policies, and issues

Two components of public opinion

Individual beliefs/attitudes AND the aggregation of those individual preferences into a larger concept

Requirements for effective representation

Voters must have communicable opinions AND elected officials must respond to these expressed preferences

Representative sample

A sample that accurately reflects the characteristics of the larger population being studied

Sampling error (margin of error)

The amount of uncertainty in polling results, typically plus or minus three percentage points in national polls with 1,500 respondents

Scientific polling requirements

Random selection, representative sample, adequate sample size, and neutrally worded questions

Benchmark poll

Poll taken at the beginning of a political campaign to gauge initial support and determine important issues

Tracking poll

Poll that measures support for a candidate or issue over the entire length of a campaign

Question wording effect

How the specific phrasing of poll questions can significantly influence respondents' answers

Party identification

One of the strongest predictors of an individual's political opinions and attitudes

Ferguson case study

2014 police shooting of Michael Brown that sparked protests and revealed sharp divisions in American public opinion about race relations

"Break in trend"

Sharp change in public opinion data, as seen in surveys about racial equality before and after Ferguson events

Horse race coverage

Media criticism for focusing on who's winning/losing in polls rather than substantive policy issues

Voluntary response polls

Unreliable polls (like call-ins) where participants self-select, creating unrepresentative samples

Uses of polling

Research, campaign strategy, policy development, media coverage, and gauging public sentiment on issues

Racial disparity in views of police treatment

Blacks (81%), Hispanics (65%), and Whites (50%) reported different levels of concern about police treatment of minorities

Public opinion evolution

How public sentiment changes over time, impacting media coverage, interest groups, and political responses

V.O. Key

Pioneer in public opinion studies who shifted blame for "indecision, decay, and disaster" from the public onto leadership, arguing public opinion keeps leaders from straying too far outside acceptable parameters.

Opinion dike

Key's concept describing how public opinion forms channels that direct government action rather than directly controlling each decision.

Permissive consensus

Widespread sentiment supporting action toward general objectives (like healthcare or economic security) that typically develops before governmental action.

Political activists

The thin stratum of politically engaged individuals spread throughout socioeconomic levels who serve as intermediaries between mass opinion and government.

Feedback system

The dynamic interaction between leadership and mass that defines how public opinion functions in democratic systems.

Elite fragmentation

The distribution of political activists throughout social strata, which helps prevent authoritarian tendencies and supports democratic governance.

Key's main argument

If democracy tends toward confusion or decay, responsibility rests with political influentials and opinion-givers, not with the mass public.

Democratic leadership characteristics

Leaders in democracies show regard for public opinion, maintain relatively open access to leadership positions, and operate within opinion "dikes" established by the public.

Bill Bishop

Argues that Americans increasingly live in politically homogeneous communities that are "ideologically inbred," leading to polarization as politicians must maximize their base voters rather than appeal to swing voters in the middle.

Demographic segregation

The social transformation where Americans choose neighborhoods, churches, and news sources compatible with their lifestyle and beliefs, creating pockets of like-minded citizens who cannot understand those with different views.

William Frey

Demographer who analyzes America's "diversity explosion" and its political implications, particularly focusing on battleground states and demographic shifts.

Minority births milestone

In 2011, for the first time in U.S. history, more minority babies than white babies were born, signaling the transformation from a mostly white baby boom culture to a more globalized, multiracial country.

Diversity explosion

Term describing the rapid demographic changes in America including growth of "new minorities" (Hispanics, Asians, multiracial populations), aging white population, black migration patterns, and shift toward no racial majority.