Political Culture and Ideologies Flashcards
What is political culture?
How the general public feels. It is the characteristics, values, beliefs, and behaviours of a society’s members in regards to politics.
Political culture includes?
What people feel is the appropriate role for government, how important freedom, equality, and social order are, amongst other things.
What is fragment theory?
The belief that societies based on immigration from a specific country do not represent that country. Instead, immigrant societies represent a specific slice of the parent society, and this fragment influences and shapes the new society.
In Canada, what is fragment theory like?
We have a double fragment. The french fragment (original french catholic colonists) and the english fragment.
What is formative events theory?
The theory that society is shaped by “major events” which set the path for society to follow.
What is an example of formative events theory?
The three major revolutions: American, French, and Russian. Each set the stage and political culture developed from it.
What is the socialist interpretation theory?
The idea that political cultures that are developed in societies like Canada and the US are the product of class relations.
What is the political spectrum?
A way to measure ideology, it came out of the french revolution. The left is towards collectivism, the right is towards the individual.
What does the left of the political spectrum indicate?
Believes the government should intervene markets. Believes that someone’s economic and social circumstances are what influences success.
What does the right on the political spectrum indicate?
Individualism. Believes the government is too intrusive and believes people achieve in society through hard work.
Why does the political spectrum continue to be used even though it is inefficient?
It is simple, and continues to be used because it is a tool to classify people. E.g., left-wing nut.
What are Canada’s three main classical ideologies?
Classical conservatism, C. liberalism, C. socialism.
What is classical liberalism?
Focuses on individual freedom, embraced freedom of religion, freedom of political affiliation and free economic markets.
What is classical conservatism?
Emphasizes tradition and community. Encouraged slow and measured change, and accepted the primacy of God.
What is classical socialism?
Based on the radical proposition of equality of condition. Believed that the state must intervene on a massive scale, not only on the economy but also in society.
