Good Citizen 6-9

The Good Citizen
Chapters 6, 7, 8, 9
Russell J. Dalton

Monday, January 26, 2009

Government: Problem or Solution?

“We must not
look to
government to
solve our
problems.
Government is
the problem.”
—Ronald Reagan


“The question we ask today is not
whether our government is too
big or too small, but whether it
works — whether it helps families
ﬁnd jobs at a decent wage, care
they can afford, a retirement that
is digniﬁed. Where the answer is
yes, we intend to move forward.
Where the answer is no, programs
will end.” —Barack Obama


Citizenship types affect policy preferences
Duty-based: emphasis on individual
responsibility, restrict social programs
and redistributive policies
Engaged: support for activist
government, provide for needy, social
service programs, guarantee civil rights


Spending Priorities
Duty citizens want to spend on:
Transportation, scientiﬁc
research, space exploration,
military
Engaged citizens want to
spend on:
Foreign aid, welfare,
minority assistance,
environment, education,
childcare, urban areas

Citizenship and Scope of Government

Citizenship norms shape how Americans think
about the scope of government and how they
deﬁne policy priorities
Citizen duty leads to a more restrictive view
of government with limited policy mandate
Engaged citizenship encourages activist
image of government, especially on social
programs

Support for the System

Political scientists described supportive
and allegiant attitudes as fundamental
elements of a democratic civic culture
Diminished support for government
and political institutions
Widespread dissatisfaction with
government
Is the vitality of democracy at risk?

Evaluations of Government

High duty citizenship:
More positive about government
performance, administrators, think
elections are fair and honest
High engaged citizenship:
Not nostalgic about government
working, believe corruption more
widespread, elections not fair

Democratic Values

Inclusion & Equality
Citizen participation
Effective participation
Social democracy


Democratic Values Tradeoffs

Will of majority vs. Give up liberties to
rights of minority curb terrorism vs.
preserve freedoms
Times of war call or they win
for strong leader
vs. times of war Respect policies
call for political even if disagree vs.
skepticism act according to
conscience


National Pride
Overt expressions of patriotism seem less
common
Multiculturalism/diversity changes national
identity
Duty: allegiance,
loyalty, political order
Engaged: questioning view of
government, solidarity
aspects

Images of Government

My country right or wrong; If right to defend
it, if wrong to correct it
Duty citizens: more trustful, more deferential
to elites, enthusiastic in national pride
Engaged citizens: less trust and loyalty
presents a challenge while support for
equality, minority rights, expression support
democracy

Comparing US

Cross national comparisons identify
common processes of social and political
change that transcend any nation’s
unique historical experiences
Looking for similarities and differences
in citizenship between US and other
democracies
What does Dalton ﬁnd?

American Citizenship

Americans tend to attach
more importance to
citizenship than do people in
other industrial democracies
Includes serve in military,
pay taxes, obey laws,
watchdog, be socially
active etc.

Citizenship Comparison

Previous generations of Americans scored far
higher than other democracies in citizen duty
Today’s young Americans score higher than
other democracies in both citizen duty and
engaged citizenship


Participation Comparison

Americans are less likely
to vote or attend a
demonstration, but are
more likely to petition,
donate money, contact
politicians, attend a
meeting, and participate
in an online forum

Tolerance Comparison

Americans by far most tolerant of citizens of
developed democracies
73% allow public meeting of religious
extremist vs. 29% elsewhere
30% allow meeting of those trying to
overthrow government vs. 14% elsewhere


Democracy in America

“In comparison to other democracies,
the American political culture still
contains many of the values that make
for vibrant democracy, and these may
have even increased over the past
several decades”


Goldilocks Democracy
“Democracy beneﬁts from a
Goldilocks political culture,
which is neither too hot nor too
cold, neither too hard nor too
soft, neither too allegiant nor too
challenging”
“To love democracy, it is
necessary to love it moderately”
What does this mean in terms of
citizenship?

Changing Balance of Citizenship

Reﬂects broad restructuring of
American society and social
relations
Trying to renew traditional norms of
citizen duty won’t work
Have to understand how the
democratic process adjusts to these
changing norms to maintain balance

The Younger Generation

Old people complain that young
people are not like them; thus
democracy suffers
Younger generation: most
educated, highest standard of
living, most tolerant, diverse
Range of values and behaviors
that will beneﬁt democracy

Political Process Adaptations

1. Political Parties & Elections
Turnout strategy aimed at engaged
not just duty
Make political parties more relevant
2. Politics more contentious
Engaged more challenging of
government

Political Process Adaptations

3. People connect to government in new ways
Institutional reforms make process more
populist
4. Equality of citizen inﬂuence
Greater demand on skills and resources of
those involved
Beyond one person-one vote

Wisdom of Bono

“America is an idea, but it’s an idea that
brings with it some baggage, like power
brings responsibility. It’s an idea that
brings with it equality, but equality even
though it’s the highest calling, is the
hardest to reach. The idea that anything is
possible...This is the time for bold
measures. This is the country and you are
the generation”

Good Citizen 6-9

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