POLS-15: Political Culture + Ideologies

political culture

the shared values and beliefs that people have concerning politics, in terms of:

-how institutions should be created

-how elites and citizens should behave politically

-what should be achieved in politics

democracy

a political system in which people govern themselves

representative democracy

a form of government in which citizens elect representatives who act on their behalf in making laws, shaping policy, and running the government; also known as a republic

the United States government is a:

representative democracy

1 multiple choice option

autocracy

a form of government in which one individual dominates political power. sovereignty is usually hereditary (i.e. kings)

oligarchy

a form of government in which a group of elites hold political power (ex: military junta, bureaucrats, business interests); they may hold an "election," but tend to disregard the wishes of the masses`

which is NOT true of a totalitarian government?

A. The elite views itself as connected to the masses through shared goals

3 multiple choice options

legitimacy

the belief that the ruling class has the right to have that power; obtained in the US via elections and institutions

social contract

the idea that people give up some of their individual freedoms in exchange for protection, order, and benefits provided by the state

liberty

the noninterference of government in our lives

equality

the idea that people should have equal influence in regards to politics

internal

________ political efficacy is the sense that a person has the ability and knowledge to affect politics

external

_________ political efficacy is the sense that the government and its actors will respond to the needs of the masses

interpersonal trust

willingness to trust other individuals

tolerance

willingness to accept differences in others (i.e. religious affiliation, ethnicity, etc.); without it, people cannot act together

compromise

the willingness to make concessions on some issues with the understanding that you may get later concessions on others

ideology

the beliefs and ideals that help shape opinion and eventually policy; set of orientations, ideas, and beliefs that create worldview and set goals for politics

classical liberalism

- strong limitations on government

- strong protections of civil liberties

- people are considered largely responsible for their behavior and situation

- the government should not expand its powers to solve social problems

socialism

- politics are dominated by class struggle; the economically wealthiest dominate politics

- the government must exist to help the masses

- politics must be pulled away from the economically wealthy

- we should strive for economic equality

social democracy

- capitalism is a burden upon on the masses, and that the government may need to intervene

- accepts the existence of capitalism, but calls for the government to alleviate "harms" and "burdens"

- also known as democratic socialism

libertarianism

- the government is too large, and has intruded on liberties

- gov. intervention has held back prosperity and rights

- remove gov. power, limiting it to necessities

- allow people more control to pursue their interests and thrive

- antagonizes the government, only wants it for the most vital powers

liberals

people that believe in:

- change in a direction that expands social and political rights for minorities

- protection of natural resources and the environment

- government nonintervention in individual rights (i.e. protest, birth control, abortion)

conservatives

people that believe in:

- maintaining a political status quo

- favoring changes that could roll back government intervention in areas such as religious freedom and free enterprise, but not threaten traditional values/beliefs

populism

a political ideology that believes:

- the elite is separated from the masses to the point where they focus on their own interests

- the elite is willing to manipulate policy to protect its position/interests

- the masses are justified in mobilizing to curb elites, even through/outside established institutions like elections