Ideology: B&W Chap 1

Ideology
Barbour & Wright
Chapter 1

Monday, February 2, 2009

Political Culture

Refers to the shared values or beliefs about
the nature of the political world

Gives us a common language to use to discuss
or debate

Ideals or principles that most agree are
important even if they disagree on a precise
deﬁnition


Political Culture
“Political culture is handed
down from generation to
generation, through
families, schools,
communities, literature,
churches and synagogues,
and so on, helping to
provide stability for the
nation by ensuring that a
majority of citizens are
well grounded in and
committed to the basic
values that sustain it.”


Political Values

Individualism

Fair processes

Democracy

Freedom

Equality


Ideologies
The sets of beliefs and
opinions about politics, the
economy, and society that
help people make sense of
their world

Points of view that divide
people into opposing
political camps

In U.S. range of debate is How are ideologies formed?
fairly narrow


Ideology Continuum
Simplest way of demonstrating American ideology

Moderate/
Independent

Liberal Conservative
Often associated Often associated
with Democratic with Republican
Party Party

Red-State/Blue-State


Purple States


X+Y ideology Grid
Less government
control of social/moral

Ex. Liberals Ex. Libertarians

More Less
Most
government government
Americans
control of control of
economy economy
Ex. Religious
Ex. Populists &
Right
Communitarians

More government


Policy Preferences Questionnaire
Indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with each statement (0=strongly disagree, 4=strongly agree). When
you finish each group, total the five numbers that you have written in the far right-hand column.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Group A
A1. Wages should be determined by the free market and not governmental standards like a minimum wage (even if
that means low wages).
Strongly Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly
Disagree Agree
0-------------1-------------2----------3----------4 ______

A2. Trade restrictions should be lifted on imports to reduce prices even if that means lower profits for American
businesses.

Disagree Agree
0-------------1-------------2----------3----------4 ______

A3. U.S. businesses should be allowed to provide jobs to employees in foreign countries even if that means Americans
losing their jobs.
Disagree Agree
0-------------1-------------2----------3----------4 ______

A4. Price supports on farm products should be eliminated even if that leads to farmers going out of business.
Disagree Agree
0-------------1-------------2----------3----------4 ______

A Total: ______


Group B
B1. Owners of private businesses, larger than a convenience store, should be required to pay for most of the
health insurance costs of their employees even if that reduces business profits.
Disagree Agree
0-------------1-------------2----------3----------4 ______

B2. Government should be active in setting health and safety standards for consumer products produced by
private businesses even if that leads to higher prices for consumers.
Disagree Agree
0-------------1-------------2----------3----------4 ______

B3. The minimum hourly wage should be increased by a significant percentage even if that leads to increased
prices for consumer goods.
Disagree Agree
0-------------1-------------2----------3----------4 ______

B4. Stricter environmental regulations should be enacted to prevent air, land, and water pollution created by
businesses even if that leads to higher prices for consumer goods.
Disagree Agree
0-------------1-------------2----------3----------4 ______

B Total: ______


Group C
C1. Sexual activities between consenting adults (regardless of gender) should be legal.
Disagree Agree
0-------------1-------------2----------3----------4 ______

C2. Marijuana should be made legal for adults over the age of 21 subject to regulations such as no driving under
the influence.
Disagree Agree
0-------------1-------------2----------3----------4 ______

C3. People who have terminal diseases should have the right to end their own lives with the assistance of
doctors. Strongly Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly
Disagree Agree
0-------------1-------------2----------3----------4 ______

C4. Television should be free from government regulation when it comes to language, nudity, etc.
Disagree Agree
0-------------1-------------2----------3----------4 ______

C Total: ______


Group D
D1. All students attending public K-12 should be subject to spanking or paddling by school authorities
when they violate school rules.
Disagree Agree
0-------------1-------------2----------3----------4 ______

D2. Non-religious or religious alcohol use should be illegal.
Disagree Agree
0-------------1-------------2----------3----------4 ______

D3. If a married person engages in sex with somebody other than their spouse both persons should be
subjected to punishment by the state.
Disagree Agree
0-------------1-------------2----------3----------4 ______

D4. Communities should have the right to keep local businesses from selling Playboy and Penthouse
magazines.
Disagree Agree
0-------------1-------------2----------3----------4 ______

D Total: ______


Ideology Quiz
Scoring
Subtract your total on section B from your
total on section A

A-B = x-axis score (horizontal)

Subtract your total on section D from your
total on section C

C-D = y-axis score (vertical)


Less government

16
Liberal Libertarian
8
More Less
-16 -8 8 16
government government
control of control of
0
economy economy

-8
Social
Populist
Conservative
-16
More government


More on Ideology

Pew Research Center on People and the
Press

http://typology.people-press.org/typology/


Ideology: B&W Chap 1

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