Canadian and US Political Culture, Parties, and Systems

What is political culture?

The attitudes, beliefs, values, and norms that people develop toward government and politics.

What are the three psychological aspects of political culture?

Cognitive (rational thoughts), emotive (feelings), and judgmental (evaluations or judgments).

What are political subcultures?

Identifiable collectivities with a political dimension below the level of nation or country, such as regions or minority nations.

Who conducted the first major study of political culture using survey data?

Almond and Verba in their work 'The Civic Culture' (1963).

What three variables did Almond and Verba use to categorize national political cultures?

Efficacy, trust, and participation.

What is the 'civic culture' according to Almond and Verba?

A mix of attitudes, values, and beliefs most likely to produce a stable liberal democracy.

What is the Post-Materialism Thesis proposed by Inglehart?

The idea that post-materialist values like self-fulfillment and quality of life are gradually replacing older materialist values focused on physical and economic security.

What evidence does Inglehart use to support his Post-Materialism Thesis?

Multiple rounds of survey data showing a convergence of political cultures toward post-materialist values in developed countries.

What is Putnam's Social Capital Thesis?

The argument that social trust, volunteerism, and cooperation are essential for democracy, and that these are declining in America.

What phenomenon does Putnam describe in 'Bowling Alone'?

The decline of social capital in America, marked by reduced social trust and participation.

What is Hartz's Fragment Theory?

An alternative historical approach explaining national differences in political culture through the historical origins of settler societies.

How does Hartz describe the origins of the USA's political culture?

As a liberal cultural fragment comprised of Protestant dissenters who ideologically congealed at the time of the American Revolution.

What ideologies does the USA reject according to Hartz?

Classical conservatism (toryism) and socialism, viewing them as 'un-American'.

What cultural fragment does English Canada represent?

A settler society with historical origins in both British and American Loyalist immigration.

What is a fragmented political culture?

A culture that is conflict-ridden and segmented, lacking sufficient consensus to support a stable liberal democracy.

What characterizes a collectivist political culture?

Exhibiting either communist or authoritarian attitudes and values, insufficiently democratic for a stable liberal democracy.

What is the significance of the World Values Survey in political culture studies?

It provides data for cross-national comparisons of political cultures over time.

What does a polyarchal political culture indicate?

A culture exhibiting both democratic and consensual values and attitudes.

What are the suggested causes for the decline of social capital according to Putnam?

Social, technological, and lifestyle changes, as well as demographic changes like greater ethnic diversity.

What is the main concern of political culture studies?

Understanding the psychological dimension of politics and how individual attitudes aggregate to form societal patterns.

What is the predominant political culture in Canada?

Canada's cultural fragment is predominantly liberal with a strain of conservatism, termed Tory-touched liberalism.

What historical events influenced the political culture of Canada?

The influence of Loyalists fleeing political persecution after the American Revolution and subsequent British immigration shaped Canadian political culture.

What does Fragment Theory argue about Canadian ideologies?

It argues that the competition between liberalism and conservatism in Canada created a dialectic leading to a distinct Canadian variant of socialism.

How did French Canada develop its political culture?

French Canada, isolated by British conquest, became a conservative fragment with the Church preserving Catholicism, language, and culture.

What role did the Church play in French Canada?

The Church acted as a protector of the Catholic religion, French language, and culture, sheltering French Canada from Protestant influences.

What is meant by 'two cultural solitudes' in Canada?

It refers to the cultural separation between French and English Canada, leading to distinct political and social identities.

What ideological change occurred in French Canada?

The conservative fragment of French Canada was influenced by English Canadian liberalism, leading to the progressive Quiet Revolution.

What is Lipset's formative events thesis?

It posits that key conjunctures in a country's political history establish its political system and cultural ethos, creating a path dependency.

What are the three formative events that shaped Canadian political culture?

The Conquest, Counter-revolution, and Confederation.

What significant constitutional change occurred in Canada in 1982?

Canada changed its constitution to include a Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

How does the Political Economy approach view political culture?

It sees culture as evolving with capitalist development, where older values fade as economies and technologies change.

What social changes accompany economic development in Canada?

Economic development has led to widespread affluence, an expanding middle class, and the emergence of new social movements.

What are the key aspects of contemporary Canadian political culture?

Federalism, pluralism, and multiculturalism.

What does the federal aspect of Canadian culture entail?

It includes strong provincial governments, regional political cultures, and minority nations like the Quebecois and Aboriginal peoples.

What are the core values of pluralism in Canada?

Core liberal values, minority rights, and tolerance of diversity as reflected in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

How is multiculturalism viewed in Canadian identity?

Multiculturalism is a key part of Canadian identity, with laws and policies aimed at preserving and promoting diversity.

What is the difference between the Canadian and American views of freedom and equality?

Brooks argues that Canada and the US understand these concepts differently, with Canada asserting its cultural differences.

What does Nevitte's analysis suggest about societal values in Canada and the USA?

It suggests both countries are becoming more secular, diverse, and socially progressive due to generational replacement and economic changes.

What divergence in societal values has been observed since the 1980s?

Religiosity and social conservatism are stronger in the USA, while postmaterialist and secular values are stronger in Canada.

What distinguishes political parties from factions and interest groups?

Political parties focus on the election and formation of governments in democratic systems.

How does Schumpeter define a political party?

A group whose members propose to act in concert in the competitive struggle for elected office.

What is a party system?

All the political parties within a given political system and the pattern of competition and cooperation between them.

What factors explain differences between party systems?

Political history, socio-economic structure, societal cleavages, and type of electoral system.

List one function of political parties according to King.

Structuring the vote, integrating and mobilizing the polity, political education and socialization, articulating and aggregating interests, recruiting political leaders, organizing government, or formulating public policies.

What is Ostrogorski's view on political parties?

He viewed parties as 'necessary evils' and 'vehicles of corruption' if they seek to retain power.

What does Michels' 'iron law of oligarchy' state?

Power always concentrates with leaders at the top and will be used for purposes of organizational self-preservation.

What are Duverger's criteria for classifying political parties?

Type of membership and organization, and the main goal of the party.

What characterizes a cadre party?

A caucus-based organization with the goal of election.

What is a mass party?

A local/regional branch organization with education and election goals.

Define a vanguard party.

A party with semi-autonomous cells focused on agitation, propaganda, and revolution.

What is a personalistic party?

A party dominated by an all-powerful leader with a weak party organization.

What is a catch-all or brokerage party?

A pragmatic, non-ideological party seeking broad-based support from the electorate.

What is the difference between extreme proportional representation and simple plurality systems?

Extreme PR encourages many small parties, while simple plurality favors larger parties.

What are frozen cleavages?

Divisions within society that structure political competition over long periods.

What is the voter sovereignty model according to Downs?

Competition between parties tends to converge on the 'median voter'.

What does Sartori say about the relationship between the number of parties and ideological spectrum?

The greater the number of parties, the broader the ideological spectrum.

What is the impact of electoral systems on party numbers?

Electoral systems can act as a brake or accelerator on the number of parties.

What is the significance of ideological competition in party systems?

It forces parties to differentiate themselves and cultivate different segments of the electorate.

What role do established parties play in voter coalitions?

They benefit from perpetuating voter coalitions around congealed cleavages.

What is the main goal of a programmatic party?

To adopt a clear and consistent ideological perspective with coherent policy goals.

What does the term 'congealment' refer to in political party systems?

The process by which established cleavages secure a stable voter base for parties.

What is the effect of postwar affluence on party systems?

It created conditions for policy consensus and the dominance of catch-all parties.

How do parties shape voter preferences?

By acting as 'organizers of difference' in the electorate.

What happens when cleavages become 'unfrozen'?

It can lead to voter realignment and the rise of new parties.

What is the primary goal of a devotee party?

To engage in direct action and mass mobilization.

What is a majority electoral system?

A system that allows voters to rank their choices, promoting cooperation among like-minded parties.