Why do people who go to vote choose differently? Political socialization is the lifelong process by which people form political views. Its main agents are:
- Family: often the first and strongest influence on party loyalty.
- School: civics lessons, the Pledge, student government.
- Religion and community.
- Peers and work.
- Media and social media.
- Events: a war, a depression or an attack can shape a whole generation's views (a "generational effect").
Why it works
Americans share a broad set of values that most hold whatever their party: liberty, equality before the law, democracy, individualism and the rule of law. They disagree about how to balance them, and that is where ideologies come in. Here each is described in its own adherents' terms. These are broad tendencies; many people hold a mix, and the parties do not line up with them perfectly.
| Ideology | How its supporters describe it |
|---|---|
| Liberal (progressive) | Government should act to widen opportunity and protect people from hardship and unfair treatment, through programs such as health coverage, worker protections and civil rights enforcement, while protecting personal freedoms. |
| Conservative | Government should be limited, taxes moderate and markets free; traditions, family, faith and strong defense deserve protection, and change should come carefully. |
| Libertarian | Government should be as small as possible on both economic and personal questions: people should be free to run their businesses and their private lives as they choose, so long as they do not harm others. |
Key idea
Views form through agents of socialization (family, school, religion, peers, media, events). Americans share core values such as liberty, equality, democracy, individualism and the rule of law, and differ in ideology: liberal, conservative, libertarian.
Worked example: Name the agent
A student's views on war are shaped by growing up during the September 11 attacks and the wars that followed. Which agent is that?
- A major event shared by a whole age group.
Answer: Events (a generational effect).
Worked example: Name the ideology
A voter says: "Keep government out of my wallet and out of my private life." Which ideology fits best?
- Limited government on economic questions and on personal questions.
- That combination is libertarian.
Answer: Libertarian.
Common mistake
Describing one ideology through its opponents' eyes ("conservatives don't care about the poor," "liberals hate freedom"). Use each group's own statement of its goals. Check: would a thoughtful supporter agree with how you described the view?