Human Rights in the US: A Political Culture Perspective

Overview: Political culture theory provides a critical framework to explore why human rights issues persist over time, even with the population’s desire for the solution. This presentation will introduce political culture theory and examine how the different views of good government both shape and obstruct advancing human rights policy.Proposal text: Human rights issues persist over time, often in the face of population consensus for a solution. For example, population surveys signal that most of the US population desires gun reforms, yet policy solutions rarely make it to the agenda in meaningful ways (Gallup, 2021). So, why can’t good laws be passed? Often, the challenge is not “if” the policy issue should be addressed but the determination of “how” the policy should be addressed. Social work policy courses typically examine advocacy coalitions, PACs, lobbying networks, and other theoretical perspectives for whom or what pushes policy preferences to the front. One possible explanation for the challenges of policy solutions to many pressing human rights issues is the theory of political culture. Still, this sizeable theoretical lens and body of literature are rarely examined in social work courses. The presenters will introduce the theory, provide guidance for teaching the political culture theory in policy courses, and share examples of political culture responses to ongoing human rights issues.

Political culture theory examines state-level cultural differences and how the prevailing culture establishes pre-existing conditions of citizen preferences for government action. In short, political culture determines “good public policy,” as seen by those in power. So, any social reform that occurs, or lack thereof, is adapted from the eyes of the culture type.

The theory’s central premise is the three dominant culture types: traditionalistic, moralistic, and individualistic—each of those types guides the kind of policy solutions that are put forward. For example, traditionalistic states will propose that human rights issues be addressed at the state level, as their primary culture objective is to preserve the status quo and autonomy. Traditionalists states are more likely to adapt their own state-level immigration policy, seek to control female health and reproduction, and limit equity in pursuit of their cultural objective of traditionalism (Drabble, et al., 2019). Whereas the moralistic states see government action as a moral obligation, they are typically the first adopters of policy that advances human rights, such as sanctuary cities for immigration, protections for individuals based on sex and sexual orientation, or health care access policies. Political culture dominates state demography at the aggregate level as a source of state-to-state differences in opinion. Studies that draw from political culture have used the theoretical lens to explain voting rights, voter participation, housing policy, aid and welfare programs, gun policy, health policy, and many other policy issues (Brenan, 2021; Coll, 2009; Cooling, 2019; Dincer & Johnston, 2017; Drabble et al., 2019; Fisher, 2016).

The presenters aims to enhance and expand educators’ methods for advancing policy skills by providing a framework for understanding the theory. Applications of political culture theory are included for various policies that have been approached differently by states across their political culture. Then ensues a detailed discussion of an innovative teaching activity that can assist educators in policy practice skill development. Next, the presenters overview the methods and questions for debriefing the activity by content and process and close by answering audience questions.