Political Ideology

Political Ideology

A certain set of ethical ideals, principles, doctrines, myths, or symbols of a social movement, institution, class, or large group that explains how society should work and offers some political and cultural blueprint for a certain social order

• Set of beliefs about the proper order of society and how it can be achieved

• One’s beliefs about power, political values, and the role of government

• Often specific in how the functions of government should be carried out. 

Political Culture

Set of shared beliefs, values, and norms that shape the political behavior of a society

•  A more broad view of government 

• (A society who is mistrustful or trustful of government)

Core American beliefs and their impact on our view of the role of gov.

Individuals, Equality of Opportunity, Free Enterprise, Rule of law

Individuals

Self Reliance: People are responsible of their own well being and success

A focus on individual rights, autonomy(ability to make your own decisions), individual responsibility and liberties

Merit and hard work get you where u are

Expected to care for urself

Collectivism: opposite of individualism, people work in groups for each other well being

Equality of opportunity

Fair treatment and a level playing field where people succeed based on their merit and hard work, not like race, ancestry, sex

-Fair process non discriminatory

-Unequal outcomes expected and allowed

Free enterprise

Private individuals and businesses make economic decisions and control resources without much government intervention 

-RIght to private property

-Profit Motive

-Competition

-Consumer Freedom

-Voluntary exchange

Rule of law

Due process

All people and gov are under the law and should be applied equally and impartially to all

Limited gov.

Stable and predictable society

Political Socialization

Generational Effect

Life cycle effect

Forming political ideology

Political socialization

The process through which and individual acquires their political orientation

Political Influences

Peer groups

Especially based on race and ethnicity, religion, gender

Social and economic differences

Different life experiences views towards economic outcomes

Sectional/Regional differences

Urban v Rural v suburb v west coast, bible belt, south

Media/Social Media

• Agenda setting

Family influence

• Views you are surrounded by the most.  Does your family discuss politics? 

Age

Influence of education

Preschool: 

• Ideas of authority and rules

Elementary School: 

• Concept of government AND political figures portrayed as honest and benevolent

High School:

• Begin to identify with a political party (Can ID with liberal / conservative)

College:

• College students more liberal than general population (and vote at higher rates)

Generational effect

How a cohort's shared historical and cultural experiences, unique to the time they grew up, influence their political beliefs and behaviors

• Generational experiences shape different views towards what they value. 

Examples: 

• 9/11 Terrorist attack = Military expansion and homeland security

• Great Recession = Safety nets and government welfare programs

Life cycle effect

How people’s ideological views change through different stages of life.  

Examples: 

• High School graduates  = tuition assistance, job market, rent cost

• Middle age Workers = Taxes, Interest Rates, Economic Freedom, Stock Market, job security.

• Retirees =  Social Security stability, Medicare

Young people are less likely to vote.  As people age their political participation generally rises. 

Political IDeology

Socialism, Liberalism, COnservatism, Libertarianism

Liberalism

Large Central (Federal) Government: See the government as the facilitator of progress (progressives) 

Systemic Inequities: Built into the system.  Can’t be fixed without a larger government to protect civil rights.   

Key Value: Equality

Social Welfare:  Need more social programs to help redistribute wealth and create a more equal opportunity for all. (social safety net) Demand side / Keynesian

Higher Taxes: On the wealthy and Corporations to pay for social programs.

More Government Regulations: protect the environment, rights, workers, etc.

Urban Areas: 

Conservatism

Smaller Central Government: Government seen as more of the problem than the solution.  More state rights.  

Core Value: Liberty (individual freedom over collectivism)

Economic Freedom: Capitalism and Free Enterprise create opportunity and hard work and merit = more economic success.

Trickle Down Economics: Tax cuts for all, including corporations and wealthy, which create more economic opportunity. (supply side economics)

Return to Traditional Family Values and morals: Crime, Drug use, societal problems caused by the erosion of the american Family in the 1960 and 70s.

Less Regulations: The Bureaucracy is too big, increasing living cost and slowing economic growth and opportunity. 

Rural Areas: 

Businesses and taxes

Liberal: 

• More regulations on businesses to protect the common interest. 

• Environmental regulation 

• Worker regulations

• Living Wages/Min Wage increases

Progressive Tax systems: 

• Rich should pay more to close economic gaps.  

Conservative: 

• Less Regulations on business to promote economic growth, earnings and higher wages.

• Environmental regulation hurt people more than they help the environment.

• Against mandatory wages

Tax cuts for Corporations/businesses and all people.  

• Creates reinvestment = more job opportunities, higher wages and less need for government assistance. 

Abortion and same sex marriage

Liberal: 

Pro- Choice: 

• Few limits on abortion.  

• Abortion is a right of women

• More Extreme = protected up to birth. 

Pro Same sex marriage. 

Conservative: 

Pro-Life:

• Bans on abortion after the 1st trimester

• Right of the unborn.

• Bans on abortion other than to save mom, incest, rape.  

• More extreme = complete ban.2

Marriage is between man and women. Religious connection to the sanctity of marriage.   

Criminal Justice and death penalty

Liberal:

• Restorative Justice 

• Criminals are the victims of their circumstances/systemic inequalities

• Want rights of accused protected first and foremost

• Interested in finding out “why” person committed crime

• Against death penalty

Conservative: 

• Punitive = criminals need harsh punishment to deter and prevent further criminal activity. 

Social Security, Healthcare

Liberal: 

Social Security: 

• Managed by the Government  is best.

• Support Social Security

Healthcare: 

• Nationalized health care provided by the government. 

• Mandatory coverage and insurance

• Support Obamacare

Conservative: 

Social Security:

• Privatization is best.

• Support Social Security

Healthcare: 

• deregulated and left in the hands of independent, competing health care providers

• Privatization (free market) 

• Against Obamacare

Socialism

Ideology that favors an expanded role of American government 

Views include the following:

• Public ownership of key industries

• Vast public job programs – all who want to work will be put to work (“Build jobs, not jails”)

• High taxes for wealthy

• Cut defense spending

• Social and economic equality is goal

• Against capitalist “free market economy”

• Healthcare and childcare provided for all

• Free post-secondary education (college)

Libertarianism

Ideology that cherishes individual liberty above all else, and favors a sharply limited state and federal government

Views include the following:

• Massive cuts in federal spending; reduce and eliminate taxes

• End to FBI/CIA (any federal government policing)

• Small defense (use only if attacked, no offensives)

• Complete withdrawal of all overseas U.S. military

• Elimination of all government programs (like welfare, social security, Medicare)

• Repeal laws regulating morality (abortion, porn, prostitution, recreational drugs)

• No government regulation (even seat belt or motorcycle helmet laws)

• Free Market Economics!!