Download Political Socialization: Agents, Influences, and Party Affiliations - Prof. Paul Edleman and more Study notes Local Government Studies in PDF only on Docsity! 1 Political Socialization n Political Socialization – Refers to the process by which the central values of the political culture are transmitted from one generation to another. Agents of Socialization n Agents of Socialization – The persons by which and the setting in which the process of political socialization is accomplished. n Family n Schools n Church n Friends Socialization Groupings n I. Primary groups n Individuals closest to you • Family, friends n II. Secondary groups • Organizations • Churches, professional groups n III. Social classes • Lower, working class, middle class, etc. 2 Socialization Across Time n I. Life-cycle Effect – how a person’s beliefs and behavior change over time n Example – Political view prior to having a family vs. the views after having a family n II. Period Effect – One historical event impacts an entire society. n Example – Great Depression n III. Cohort Effect – One historical event impacts a specific group of people. n Example – Vietnam War on men of draft age Agents of Socialization n Family n Most important agent of socialization n Families have similar political views n Children hold same party affiliation as parents n Schools n Schools pass on American political values n Similar peer groups Agents of Socialization, continued n Religion n Catholics • Liberal economics/social conservatives n Protestant • Conservative economics & social issues n Jewish • Liberal economics & social issues 5 Political Parties, continued n Socialism n Gov’t ownership of means of production n Policy positions • Nationalization of major industries • Higher taxes • Cut defense spending • Favor individual liberty Political Parties, continued n Liberalism (Democrats) n Philosophical Background • Positive view of human nature • People are naturally good • Society should provide equality Political Parties, continued n Liberalism n Policy positions • Support • Welfare • Food stamps • Housing • Health care • Affirmative action • Free speech • Abortion • Individual morality 6 Political Parties, continued n Liberalism n Criticisms • Too much government • Government becomes too big • Undermines self-help tradition • Rely too much on the government Political Parties, continued n Conservativism (Republican) n Philosophical Background • Pessimistic view of human nature • People need to be guided by a moral code • Personal responsibility • Market economics n Policy positions • Strong defense • Lower taxes • Limited gov’t • Anti-Abortion Political Parties, continued n Conservativism n New Right • Christian Conservatives/Moral Right • Emphasis on moral issues • School prayer • Pro-family • Pro-life • Anti-gay 7 Political Parties, continued n Conservativism n Criticisms • Selective opposition to government • Too much emphasis on market economics • Race and sexism
