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,
, Chapter 1: The Social And Economic Milieu Of Texas Politics 1
CHAPTER 1: THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC MILIEU OF TEXAS POLITICS
TEACHING OBJECTIVES
1. This chapter aims to introduce students to the general social and economic characteristics of the
people living in Texas, with a focus on how these factors shape the politics of the state. The
demographic composition of the state has undergone significant changes over the last four decades
and will continue to change. Demographic and economic changes are related to political changes,
which have consequences for the distribution of political resources and power and for public policy.
2. By introducing students to the concept of political culture and Daniel Elazar's theories of political
subcultures, the text encourages students to ask questions about the fundamental views that Texans
have of their governments and public officials. This analysis leads to an assessment of the
relationship between the political culture and public policy.
3. Political myths have also been used by social scientists to explain the relationships between the state's
culture and its politics, and a discussion of some of the prevailing myths is used to provide further
insights into the dominant cultural patterns of the state.
4. The student is introduced to the state's economy with an emphasis on the patterns of economic
diversification, the ten distinct economic regions of the state, changing employment opportunities,
and the effects of the global economy on Texas. Politics and economics are inextricably linked, and
this chapter moves to establish this relationship, a theme developed throughout the book.
CHAPTER OUTLINE
I. Challenges of the Twenty-First Century
II. The Myths of Texas's Political Culture
III. The Political Culture of Texas
A. The Individualistic Subculture
B. The Moralistic Subculture
C. The Traditionalistic Subculture
IV. Historical Origins of Political Subcultures
V. The People of Texas
A. Native Americans
B. Hispanics
C. African Americans
D. Anglos
E. Asian Americans
F. Politics, Race, and Ethnicity
VI. Growth and Changing Demographics
A. The Aging Population
B. Urban Texas
C. Wealth and income distribution
D. Education and Literacy
E. The Size and Geographic Diversity of Texas
, 2 Instructor’s Manual/Test Bank
F. The Economy of Texas
G. Economic Regions of Texas
VII. Summary and Conclusions
KEY TERMS
Political myths Traditionalistic subculture
Republic Urbanization
Individualism Population density
Political culture Regressive tax
Individualistic subculture Economic diversification
Moralistic subculture Globalization of the economy
DISCUSSION
1. The People, Their Politics, and Institutions
Politics is about people, their relationships to other individuals and groups, the means by which they
resolve conflict over competing interests and demands, and the political institutions they create to
satisfy their needs and expectations.
Texas is a large, diverse state, and this diversity, both in economic and demographic terms, is a
central dimension of the state's politics. This diversity has presented Texas with a multitude of
challenges in the twenty-first century.
With the release of the 2000 census data, a rich data source is available to permit an extensive
discussion of the general characteristics of the population and permit comparisons with earlier
censuses. The data also allows predictions to be formed and plans to be developed for the future
challenges. From a historical perspective and projecting to the future, thes data speaks to the changes
in the ethnic, racial, and social composition of the state. The implications of these changes can be
developed with specific references to a) the consequences for electoral politics, b) the impact these
changes are likely to have on the centers of political power and influence, c) elected and appointed
public officials, and d) policy issues that governmental institutions are likely to address.
2. The Political Myths
Texans have their own political mythology with stories and symbols about the people, their past, and
their purpose. T. R. Fehrenbach has demonstrated the utility of using the theory of myth to understand
and interpret a specific culture. Rupert R. Richardson wrote extensively on the history of Texas and the
impact that Texas heroes have made on its cultures. Students have been exposed to a wide range
of these myths, and they incorporate them in their own discussions and assessments of the Texas
culture. A discussion of these myths with a focus on their political implications can lead to a
discussion of dominant characteristics of the Texas political culture.
3. The Political Culture
Utilizing the theories of political culture, Daniel Elazar and a number of other scholars who have
directed their interests to state and regional politics have produced a rich body of theoretical and
descriptive literature that attempts to explain differences and similarities in the politics and public
,
, Chapter 1: The Social And Economic Milieu Of Texas Politics 1
CHAPTER 1: THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC MILIEU OF TEXAS POLITICS
TEACHING OBJECTIVES
1. This chapter aims to introduce students to the general social and economic characteristics of the
people living in Texas, with a focus on how these factors shape the politics of the state. The
demographic composition of the state has undergone significant changes over the last four decades
and will continue to change. Demographic and economic changes are related to political changes,
which have consequences for the distribution of political resources and power and for public policy.
2. By introducing students to the concept of political culture and Daniel Elazar's theories of political
subcultures, the text encourages students to ask questions about the fundamental views that Texans
have of their governments and public officials. This analysis leads to an assessment of the
relationship between the political culture and public policy.
3. Political myths have also been used by social scientists to explain the relationships between the state's
culture and its politics, and a discussion of some of the prevailing myths is used to provide further
insights into the dominant cultural patterns of the state.
4. The student is introduced to the state's economy with an emphasis on the patterns of economic
diversification, the ten distinct economic regions of the state, changing employment opportunities,
and the effects of the global economy on Texas. Politics and economics are inextricably linked, and
this chapter moves to establish this relationship, a theme developed throughout the book.
CHAPTER OUTLINE
I. Challenges of the Twenty-First Century
II. The Myths of Texas's Political Culture
III. The Political Culture of Texas
A. The Individualistic Subculture
B. The Moralistic Subculture
C. The Traditionalistic Subculture
IV. Historical Origins of Political Subcultures
V. The People of Texas
A. Native Americans
B. Hispanics
C. African Americans
D. Anglos
E. Asian Americans
F. Politics, Race, and Ethnicity
VI. Growth and Changing Demographics
A. The Aging Population
B. Urban Texas
C. Wealth and income distribution
D. Education and Literacy
E. The Size and Geographic Diversity of Texas
, 2 Instructor’s Manual/Test Bank
F. The Economy of Texas
G. Economic Regions of Texas
VII. Summary and Conclusions
KEY TERMS
Political myths Traditionalistic subculture
Republic Urbanization
Individualism Population density
Political culture Regressive tax
Individualistic subculture Economic diversification
Moralistic subculture Globalization of the economy
DISCUSSION
1. The People, Their Politics, and Institutions
Politics is about people, their relationships to other individuals and groups, the means by which they
resolve conflict over competing interests and demands, and the political institutions they create to
satisfy their needs and expectations.
Texas is a large, diverse state, and this diversity, both in economic and demographic terms, is a
central dimension of the state's politics. This diversity has presented Texas with a multitude of
challenges in the twenty-first century.
With the release of the 2000 census data, a rich data source is available to permit an extensive
discussion of the general characteristics of the population and permit comparisons with earlier
censuses. The data also allows predictions to be formed and plans to be developed for the future
challenges. From a historical perspective and projecting to the future, thes data speaks to the changes
in the ethnic, racial, and social composition of the state. The implications of these changes can be
developed with specific references to a) the consequences for electoral politics, b) the impact these
changes are likely to have on the centers of political power and influence, c) elected and appointed
public officials, and d) policy issues that governmental institutions are likely to address.
2. The Political Myths
Texans have their own political mythology with stories and symbols about the people, their past, and
their purpose. T. R. Fehrenbach has demonstrated the utility of using the theory of myth to understand
and interpret a specific culture. Rupert R. Richardson wrote extensively on the history of Texas and the
impact that Texas heroes have made on its cultures. Students have been exposed to a wide range
of these myths, and they incorporate them in their own discussions and assessments of the Texas
culture. A discussion of these myths with a focus on their political implications can lead to a
discussion of dominant characteristics of the Texas political culture.
3. The Political Culture
Utilizing the theories of political culture, Daniel Elazar and a number of other scholars who have
directed their interests to state and regional politics have produced a rich body of theoretical and
descriptive literature that attempts to explain differences and similarities in the politics and public
