chapter 5: political landscape Flashcards
The process by which we develop our political attitudes, values, and beliefs
Political socialization
Belief in the superiority of one’s nation or social group
Ethnocentrism
The study of the characteristics of populations
Demographics
A characteristic of individuals that is predictive of political behavior
Political predisposition
Divisions within society that reinforce one another, making groups more homogeneous
Reinforcing cleavages
Divisions within society that cut across demographic categories to produce groups that are more heterogeneous
Cross cutting cleavages
When social and economical differences coincide, they reinforce each other, making the differences more important. This is called
Reinforcing cleavages
A notion held by Americans that the US was destined to rule the continent ocean to ocean
Manifest destiny
What often impedes the development of democracy in relatively weak nations?
Powerful and aggressive neighbors
Why has US avoided most social conflicts?
Large landmass has enabled opposing groups to spread out.
3 reasons abundance of natural resources is important to US
1) enhance economic growth
2) provide jobs
3) stabilize government
Most distinct section of the US
The south
Traditionally, what two things made the South different?
Agricultural society and slavery
Now, what 2 factors define the South?
Lowest per capita income and highest conservatism
What does the term “solid south” refer to? Does it still apply?
Democratic being able to count on the South for votes; no
