POL 106 Chapter Notes - Chapter 6-10: Limited Government, Isolationism, Individualism
30 Jun 2018
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Department
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●Political socialization and public opinion
○Public opinion
■What the public thinks about an issue or a particular set of issues
■But determining what the “public,” or even subset of the public, thinks can
be complicated
■How influential should public opinion be in creating public policy?
■Bandwagon effect
■The relationship between public opinion and fundamental values
●Personal liberty
○Protection “to” and “from”
●Individualism
○Individual interests win out over community interests
●Equality
○Equality of opportunity VS equality of outcome
○Opportunity
■Everyone should have chance at success
○Outcome
■Government should ensure equality
■The stability of political beliefs
●Shifts in public opinion
○Previous shifts in American history
■From British loyalists to Americans
■From segregation to civil rights
■From homophobia to support for gay rights
○Gradual changes
■Cohort replacement
●Younger people replace older people
○Abrupt changes
■Wartime
●Isolationism VS internationalism
●Getting your own political beliefs
●The impact of pop culture on political opinions and values
○Chicken or the egg?
■Does public opinion impact pop culture or
opposite?
○Catalyst for change theory
■Asserts that public opinion shapes and alter our
political culture
○Barometer for public attitudes
■Theory that media reflect pop culture
○Interactive theory
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
What the public thinks about an issue or a particular set of issues. But determining what the public, or even subset of the public, thinks can be complicated. The relationship between public opinion and fundamental values. Individual interests win out over community interests. Equality of opportunity vs equality of outcome. From homophobia to support for gay rights. The impact of pop culture on political opinions and values. Asserts that public opinion shapes and alter our political culture. Popular culture both shapes and reflects popular opinion. Consistent set of basic beliefs about the proper purpose and scope of government. Support government action in matters of social equality, the economy, and the environment. Limited government spending, against big government that are too powerful. Government should protect common people against the moneyed elites. Support individual liberty above all and believe government should do as little as possible. Process by which political culture and values are passed from one generation to the next***
