POLITICAL CULTURE CITIZENS ORIENTATIONS TOWARD THE POLITICAL SYSTEM, THE POLITICAL AND POLICYMAKING PROCESS AND THE POLICY OUTPUTS AND OUTCOMES

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2 POLITICAL CULTURE CITIZENS ORIENTATIONS TOWARD THE POLITICAL SYSTEM, THE POLITICAL AND POLICYMAKING PROCESS AND THE POLICY OUTPUTS AND OUTCOMES

3 LEVELS OF POLITICAL CULTURE citizens and leaders views of values and organizations of the system expectations of how politics should function and individual s relationship to the political process citizens and leaders policy expectations from the government

4 TWO BASIC CULTURES CONSENSUAL CITIZENS TEND TO AGREE ON DECISIONMAKING PROCESS AND MAJOR PROBLEMS FACING SOCIETY CONFLICTUAL DEEP, PERSISTENT DIVISIONS ACROSS POLITICAL ATTITUDES EXIST

5 A WAY TO VIEW A POLITICAL SYSTEM The People The Government Output

6 JERVIS PERCEPTIONS AND MISPERCEPTIONS IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICS (I) Cognitive consistency itself generally refers to how people view the world and themselves; they like to view their world, the players in it, and their own personal actions as consistent, and biases influence these perceptions of consistency. Rational Consistency: People interpret evidence in a manner that is rational; that is, they make inferences about the evidence that aren t really biased. Irrational Consistency: Subconscious biases impact how people view the world and their decisions; were they aware of these subconscious biases, people would reject them.

7 JERVIS PERCEPTIONS AND MISPERCEPTIONS IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICS (II) Learning from History Basically, decision-makers seek familiar frameworks to understand new and challenging situations. Historical analogies, particularly those with related policy decisions or crises are used by decision-makers to make sense out of new and challenging situations (whether or not there is actual linkage between the two becomes irrelevant). As a result, decision-makers may be subconsciously forcing the proverbial square peg into a round hole and, as such, tend to lean towards certain policy options (those used previously typically) and away from others. Poor Learning; Poor Analysis

8 THEORIES OF GLOBAL POLITICS (I) International Realism and International liberalism Realism: States are the principal actors, driven by interests The primary interest is security; therefore, a struggle for power among self-interested states Power is primarily viewed as the military and diplomatic instruments States exist in an anarchic international system States can only rely on themselves

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10 THEORIES OF GLOBAL POLITICS (II) International Liberalism Multiple players besides states that can influence outcomes Players driven by interests, but can cooperate; institutions help Primary issue need not be security Many useful instruments of power Anarchy, mitigated by interdependence

11 Theories of Global Politics (III) Theories of international relations claim to explain the way international politics works, but each of the currently prevailing theories falls well short of that goal. One of the principal contributions that international relations theory can make is not predicting the future but providing the vocabulary and conceptual framework to ask hard questions of those who think that changing the world is easy. -- Jack Snyder

12 HOW TO ANALYZE A NEWS ARTICLE Separate Opinions From Facts and Information If an opinion is presented, consider the support for the opinion. If there is an assertion, consider the support for the assertion. Consider if the writer educating you with the facts and information or is he trying to get you to think a certain way? Be careful. Facts and information are often not correct or initial information. Use alternative sources More information allows the reader to consider what may be the facts. Recognize the importance of using reliable sources of information. Be aware of sources which lack a track record of honesty, are not in a position to know, or have a vested interest in the issue. Consider the whole article Who wrote the article and for what audience? Is the writer educating you with the facts or is he trying to get you to think a certain way? Does he provide information or create an emotional response? Be careful with supporting photos and headlines.

13 TRY TO THINK WITH CARE Try to think for yourself. Recognize your tendency to make inferences that support your own egocentric or sociocentric world views and be careful to evaluate inferences you make when your interests or desires are involved. Consider strengths and weaknesses of opposing points of view. Oversimplification is useful, but can be harmful to analysis. Recognize the difference between evidence and interpretation. Examine and make explicit your assumptions. Consider, if necessary, alternative assumptions. Understand the difference between those facts which are relevant to an issue and those which are not.