Civil Society
Democratic regimes allow for a vibrant and healthy civil society- groups that form outside of the government’s control.
Groups outside of government have complete control and freedom over what they do
Interest groups, sports leagues, civic associations
Operate in the public sphere-out in the open
Joining groups allow citizens greater influence on the government
These groups impact the government
Concern about the decline of civil society in the 20th and 21st centuries
Political Culture, Ideology, and Beliefs
Political culture is a set of collectively held attitudes, values, and beliefs about government and politics
Deeply rooted in a country’s culture, geography, and history
Ex: France – French Revolution, they start a new civil society and a new government. The French now protest everything.
Ex: In America, politics are talked about a lot
How the whole country thinks
Political socialization is the process by which an individual learns about politics and is taught about society’s common political values and beliefs
Agents of socialization include family, schools, peers, religion, and the government
Ex: Parents influence their children, schools teach children, private vs. public schools, friends influence how you understand society, religion
How people learn about their country’s beliefs
Some argue political culture influences regime type
Political cultures can change slowly over time
Postmaterialism, emerged in democraties after WWII
Now economic needs are met, citizens then move onto worrying about human rights, civils rights, environmentalism, and moral values
Political ideology is an individual’s set of beliefs and values about government, politics, and policy
Ideology may be political, economic, or both
Individualism, neoliberalism, communism, socialism, fascism, etc.
Personal belief about the country’s beliefs
Individualism is the belief that people should be free to make their own decisions and that the government should not unnecessarily regulate individual behavior or restrict civil liberties
Economic Ideologies
Neoliberalism is a philosophy favoring economic policies that support the free market and reduce trade barriers
Neo=free, so neoliberalism is allowing the market do what it wants
Free market, no government regulation
Cut government regulations on the economy, oppose government control of economic policies
Communism is an ideology that advocated state ownerships of all property, with the government exercising complete control over the economy
Both economic and political ideology
Communists believed that government ownership and control of the economy would help create an egalitarian society
It never happened
Socialism is a political ideology in which economic equality is a core value, with the belief that government ownership of the major means of production is a way to reduce income inequality within the state
Extensive welfare systems
Democratic socialism establishes a democratic regime with socialist economic ideology
Political Ideologies
Fascism is a nationalist political ideology in which nationalism and the primacy of the state are the core beliefs. It emphasizes the rights of the majority, oppresses the minority, and supports strong authoritarian rule.
Severe restrictions on civil liberties and rights
Fascism can often be totalitarian
In totalitarian systems, the government has complete control over citizens’ lives
Populism is a political ideology based on the idea that the government should put the rights and interests of the common people above the elites.
Race, ethnicity, gender, and class can be used to support populist movements