Content Analysis
AVAP Part 1: Content Analysis
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American Values (Robin Williams, 1970).
Values – The standards by which members of a particular culture define what is good or bad
Sociologist Robin Williams has identified a number of core U.S. values. All are central to the American way of life because they are widespread, have endured over time, and reflect many people’s intense feelings.
1. Individualism (“Consistent Persistence”) - Americans have traditionally prized success that comes from individual effort and initiative. They cherish the ideal that an individual can rise from the bottom of society to its very top. If someone fails to “get ahead,” Americans generally find fault with that individual, rather than with the social system for placing roadblocks in his or her path.
2. Achievement and Success(“Success Emphasis”) - Americans place a high value on personal achievement, especially outdoing others. This value includes getting ahead at work and school, and attaining wealth, power, and prestige.
3. Activity and Work (“Work for Work’s Sake”) - Americans expect people to work hard and to be busily engaged in some activity even when not at work.
4. Efficiency and Practicality - Americans award high marks for getting things done efficiently. Even in everyday life, Americans consider it important to do things fast, and they constantly seek ways to increase efficiency.
5. Science and Technology- Americans have a passion for applied science, for using science to control nature – to tame rivers and harness wind – and to develop new technology, from motorized scooters to talking computers.
6. Progress - Americans expect rapid technological change. They believe that they should
constantly build “more and better” gadgets.
7. Material Comfort - Americans expect a high level of material comfort. This comfort includes not only good nutrition, medical care, and housing, but also late-model cars and recreational playthings – from boats o computer games.
8. Humanitarianism- Americans emphasize helpfulness, personal kindness, aid in mass
disasters, and organized philanthropy.
9. Freedom - This core value pervades U.S. life. It underscored the American Revolution, and Americans pride themselves on their personal freedom.
10. Democracy -By this term, Americans refer to majority rule, to the right of everyone to express an opinion, and to representative government.
11. Equality - It is impossible to understand Americans without being aware of the central role that the value of equality plays in their lives. Equality of opportunity has significantly influenced U.S. history and continues to mark relations between groups that make up U.S. society.
Six Characteristics of a Democracy
The following are understood to be core principle or characteristics of a democracy. They are excerpted from the readings noted below (note that although the wording differs, there is consonance across the two resources reflecting a widely agreed upon set of core principles):
Citizen Rule
A democratic government grants adult citizens the right to elect their representatives. It also establishes clear guidelines for election cycles and term limits so that key positions are contested at regular intervals. Through this process of voting, citizens are regularly given the ability to hire or fire their representatives.
Majority Rule and Minority Rights
The principle of majority rule is an important part of the democratic system. The majority rules in the election process, but individual rights are protected by the maintenance of decentralized, local government bodies. In a democracy, all levels of government should be accessible to, and representative of, the people.
Individual Rights
Democracies value the protection of individual rights. The word freedom is used synonymously with democracy to describe individual liberties afforded in this type of government. In the U.S., the Bill of Rights serves as a summary of individual liberties. Freedom of speech and religion, protection from unlawful search and seizure and the right to bear arms are examples of individual liberties, afforded in a democracy. Equal treatment, under the law, is assured for everyone in a democratic society.
Free and Fair Elections
The key to the exercise of democracy is the election process. Free and fair elections are held at regular intervals for the election of representatives at all levels of government. In a free, democratic election, all adult citizens are given the right to cast votes which, in theory, ensures that the will of the people will be expressed.
Citizen Participation
Citizens of a democracy not only have the right to vote, but also the responsibility to participate. Informed participation is key in a democracy. When the people elect their representatives, they are ensuring the preservation of the democratic process Engaged citizenship is essential in a healthy democracy.
Cooperation and Compromise
Democracies also value cooperation and compromise to protect individual rights. To adequately safeguard diversity, and accurately represent all communities, a democracy must protect the right to be different. Anti-discrimination is at the heart of a true democracy. The freedom to assemble and voice opinion drives government accountability to ensure that underrepresented people have the same rights as the majority.
References:
Tomyn, R. (2018). What are the six characteristics of a democracy? Retrieved February 23, 2019 from https://classroom.synonym.com/what-are-the-six-characteristics-of-a-democracy-12083877.html
"Democracy in Brief" (n.d.). Charcateristics of a Democracy. P. 3 in "Demoracy in Brief". Retrieved February 23, 2019 from https://kr.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/75/2017/04/Democracy-in-Brief_kor-1.pdf
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