What is political culture? How can we measure it? How does it affect political preferences? And how does culture change across space and time? In this course, we will try to compile answers to these questions which have been at the heart of political science since its early beginnings. Reading and discussing classic work along with research from economics and social psychology, but also non-academic readings (e.g. Philip Roth, “The Plot Against America”), the diverse reading list tries to provide an encompassing perspective on political culture and norms. We will learn that political culture is a complex concept and deeply connected to how our political environment and we ourselves perceive politics. Political culture is often sticky, but significant changes in political systems – such as new extreme parties emerging – change our perception of norms in society and eventually political culture. To better understand when political culture changes, we will discuss and analyze historical examples during which norms in society eroded and extremism became the only game in town – e.g. fascist regimes during the 1930s – and will try to link these periods with developments today – e.g. “The Trump election and Presidency”. To understand which effects political culture and norms have, a key component of the course will be to better understand methods of causal inference.
- Lehrende/r: Daniel Bischof