Chapter 5- Textbook

Question 1

What is political culture?

Answer 1

The fundamental values, beliefs, and orientations that are widely held within a political community.

Question 2

Does each country have a particular political culture?

Answer 2

No, because in many countries there are different subcultures that break the assumption.

Question 3

There is a distinction made between___political culture (values and beliefs of the most influential in political life) and___political culture.

Answer 3

• elite

- mass

Question 4

What can we use to describe the political culture of a political community?

Answer 4

Its dominant ideological perspective and politically relevant values.

Question 5

What does Hartz argue?

Answer 5

That as societies of Western Europe developed from feudalism to capitalism, traditional conservative perspectives clashed with liberal perspectives the rose among those seeking a freer market economy. The class led to socialism.

Question 6

What was the outcome of the clash that led to socialism on Western Europe political culture?

Answer 6

that it is diverse with conservative, liberal, and socialist perspectives.

Question 7

In countries colonized by European settlers, what part of their mother country’s political culture was transferred over?

Answer 7

the leading par

Question 8

What does Hartz believe that US and Canada are? What values are predominant?

Answer 8

• liberal fragments

- individual freedom predominant

Question 9

What is the view of political culture in regards to the Loyalists?

Answer 9

They brought to Canada some traditional conservative values along with liberal values. This made possible the development of socialist values.

Question 10

How did Lipset view Canada and the US?

Answer 10

As having different political cultures because of historical experience. US was founded through revolution and Canada was founded through counter-revolutionary measures (resulted in more conservative political culture).

Question 11

Who does Lipset believe are more deferential towards those in positions of authority and willing to support collective action for common good?

Answer 11

Canada

Question 12

Who does Lipset view as being more individualistic and distrustful of government?

Answer 12

US

Question 13

Why does Lipset believe that Canada has more liberal views on social and moral issues?

Answer 13

Because of strength of conservative fundamentalist religious groups in the US.

Question 14

Who does Lipset believe is less willing to pursue egalitarian policies to redistribute wealth and income to the poor?

Answer 14

US

Question 15

what does democracy involve?

Answer 15

Process and institutions that are accountable for their citizens.

Question 16

Why is it suggested that a democratic political culture is needed?

Answer 16

If Democracy is to be sustained and meaningful.

Question 17

What did Almond and Veroba classify?

Answer 17

Political culture in terms three basic types:

• Parochial
• Subject
• Participant

Question 18

What is a parochial political culture?

Answer 18

Underdeveloped countries, most people largely unaware of political system, do not have much expectation for government duties, and do not participate in politics.

Question 19

What is a subject political culture?

Answer 19

Countries that are non-democratic or only recently emerged from an authoritarian system, awareness of political system and policies government adopts, but they are not oriented in trying to effect those policies.

Question 20

What is a participant political culture?

Answer 20

Citizens aware of political system and have activist orientation in seeking to affect what government does.

Question 21

What do Almond and Veroba suggest a participant political culture could lead to?

Answer 21

Instability if citizens put forward too many demands that governments would be unable to fulfill.

Question 22

What do Almond and Veroba believe is the best political culture?

Answer 22

A civic culture which features a mix of all three

Question 23

What does a civic culture balance?

Answer 23

power of gov’t to govern and responsiveness of gov’t to the people

Question 24

Do most people find that it is important to live in a country that is governed democratically?

Answer 24

yes

Question 25

What is Canada’s political culture based on?

Answer 25

liberal democratic values such as political freedom, individual rights, political equality, and government based on rule of law.

Question 26

Is consensus about general political culture matched by support for the values that go along with it?

Answer 26

no

Ex. suspending civil liberties if there is a national emergency.

Question 27

Have public confidence and trust in government, elected representatives, political leaders, and political parties increased or decreased in almost all the advanced democratic countries?

Answer 27

decreased

Question 28

What is political efficacy?

Answer 28

the attitude that individuals can have an impact on political decisions and that government is responsive to what people want.

Question 29

Is political efficacy high or low in advanced democracies today?

Answer 29

low (problematic)

Question 30

What could explain the recent distrust in government?

Answer 30

• political scandals
• broken promises
• citizens are better informed about the failures of gov’t through mass media

Question 31

Where is distrust for gov’t most prevalent among?

Answer 31

the educated and the young

Question 32

What is the declining capacity for gov’ts to satisfy the needs and desires of citizenry due to?

Answer 32

globalization

Question 33

Does the fact that citizens have become more critical of gov’t, political parties, and politicians indicate a dissatisfaction with democracy?

Answer 33

no

Question 34

Is the general level of political knowledge low or high? What are most people knowledgeable about?

Answer 34

• low

- although most people are knowledgeable about political issues they consider personally important.