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POLS 207: State & Local Government

Megan K. Dyer January 25, 2017


Overview

Today: Political Culture


1. Texas-style politics
2. Concept of political culture
Classifying political cultures
3. Texas political culture
Texas-style Politics

Starting with Texas

Distinctive for a variety of reasons:


1. Great size

2. Relative isolation until 20th century

3. Long-held, ferocious dislike for being told what to do


Texas-style Politics

Some roots of Texas-style politics


Mixture of old south & frontier attitudes & influences

Unmistakable conservatism of the old south


Shared historical experience of slavery, the Civil War, & reconstruction
Long denial of civil rights to African American minority

Individualism stemming from the myth & reality of frontier life

An intense state-centric patriotism & belief in Texas exceptionality


Texas-style Politics

Texas-style politics: Fmr. Gov. Ann Richards (Dem), G.W. Bush (Rep) as Governor, Current Gov. Gregg Abbot (Rep)
Texas-style Politics

Concept of POLITICAL CULTURE


Shared framework of values, beliefs, & habits related to govt & politics
(Not reducible to demographic & socioeconomic factors.)

Historical styles & traditions in state politics

Differences attributed to cultural values of early settlers & immigrants


Political Culture

Dye & MacManus:

Lieskes 11 regional subcultures:


1. Heartland 7. Blackbelt
2. Latino 8. Native
3. Nordic 9. Germanic
4. Border 10. Rurban
5. Mormon 11. Anglo-
6. Global French

Strengths & shortcomings


Political Culture

Political Scientist Daniel Elazar (1934-1999)


His Question: Why do different regions of the U.S. hold largely uniform ideologies?

Developed a causal theory of what is behind this


1. Described THREE types of political culture
& how these affect different regions

2. Causal force & explanation:


Clusters of immigrants w/ distinct cultures & homelands settled in fixed areas
Their descendants later migrate in particular patterns

How adequate an explanation is this?


Political Culture

Elazars INDIVIDUALISTIC Classification


Government should not get in the way

Emphasis on individual initiative & the market (not govt)


Govt protects individual rights & makes way for individual initiative
Wealth & power seen as qualifiers for governing

Material self-interest motivates people to enter public life


Ambition & self-advancement motivate office-seekers; corruption is tolerated
Partisan orientation; elections focus on gaining office & not issues
Unfavorable view of civil-service bureaucracy (b/c no patronage)

German & English settlers in the Mid-Atlantic states


! Midwest & West
Political Culture

Elazars MORALISTIC Classification


Government is a positive force for good.

Govt advances the public interest & serves as positive force in citizens lives
Emphasis on the commonwealth
Issue-based politics

Citizens have a duty to serve (& participate) in politics


Politicians seek office to advance issues
Corruption not tolerated; govt service is public service
Civil-service bureaucracy viewed favorably

Puritans in New England & Scandinavian settlers


! Great Lakes region ! Midwest & Northwest
Political Culture

Elazars TRADITIONALISTIC Classification


Elite lineage is all that matters.

Govt serves the elites who created it to serve them


Useful for maintaining existing social order & economic hierarchy
Ambivalent toward the market and the common good

Politicians are from societys elite


Elite have family obligation to govern; few expectations for the rest
Politics focused on rival elite factions; not class based
Civil service bureaucracy seen as interfering with personal relationships

Settlers in the Southern Colonies


! Southern & Southwestern states
Political Culture
WA

MT ND ME

OR
MN VT
U.S. Political Cultures (Elazar)
NH
ID
SD WI NY MA
WY MI CT
RI

IA PA
How is Texas classified? NV
NE

IL IN
OH MD
NJ
DE
UT
CA CO WV
KS VA
To what extent do you agree
MO
KY

with this classification? TN


NC

AZ OK
NM AR SC
GA
MS AL

TX LA

AK
FL
Moralistic
HI Moralitic and Individualistic
Traditionalistic and Moralistic
Individualistic
Traditionalistic and Individualistic
Traditionalistic
Texas Political Culture

Texas Political Culture


A hybrid of two of Elazars types

TRADITIONALISTIC for its:


Long history of one-party rule
Low levels of voter turnout
Social & economic conservatism

INDIVIDUALISTIC for its:


Strong support for private business
Opposition to big government interference
Faith in individual initiatives
Texas Political Culture

Hallmarks of Texas Political Culture

Conservatism & general hostility to govt


Economic individualism
Traditionalistic on social issues
Still advocate for govt to fix problems just different ones!

Texas Conservatism
Since the end of the Civil War
Minimal social role for govt except high interest areas!
Individualism w/in acceptable boundaries!
Prominent role of business & businesspeople in controlling the economy
No problem with heavy-handed govt to drive out liberal ideas
Texas Political Culture

Why does political culture matter?

Re: broad police powers of states & localities

Which government is responsible for what?


The state govt
OR various local governments
(City, county, school districts and more!)

Each state decides!


In its state constitution
Or in state law
Next: State Constitutions

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