Chapter Three

Political Culture and Political Socialization

Comparative Politics Today, 9/eAlmond, Powell, Dalton & Strøm

Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman © 2008

Political Culture and Political SocializationPolitical Culture and Political Socialization Each nation has its own political norms that

influence how people think and act about politics.

The way political institutions function at least partially reflects the public’s attitudes, norms, and expectations.

Political culture: public attitudes toward politics and their role within the political system

Political socialization: how individuals form their political attitudes and thus, collectively, how citizens form their political culture; we conclude by describing the major trends in political culture in the world politics today

Each nation has its own political norms that influence how people think and act about politics.

The way political institutions function at least partially reflects the public’s attitudes, norms, and expectations.

Political culture: public attitudes toward politics and their role within the political system

Political socialization: how individuals form their political attitudes and thus, collectively, how citizens form their political culture; we conclude by describing the major trends in political culture in the world politics today

Mapping the Three Levels of Political CultureMapping the Three Levels of Political Culture

A nation’s political culture includes its citizens’ orientations at three levels: The political system The political and policymaking

process Policy outputs and outcomes

A nation’s political culture includes its citizens’ orientations at three levels: The political system The political and policymaking

process Policy outputs and outcomes

Mapping the Three Levels of Political CultureMapping the Three Levels of Political Culture The system level involves how people

view the values and organizations that comprise the political system.

The process level includes expectations of how politics should function and individuals’ relationship to the political process.

The policy level deals with the public’s policy expectations for the government.

The system level involves how people view the values and organizations that comprise the political system.

The process level includes expectations of how politics should function and individuals’ relationship to the political process.

The policy level deals with the public’s policy expectations for the government.

The System LevelThe System Level

It is difficult for any political system to endure if it lacks the support of its citizens. Feelings of national pride are

considered an affective, emotional tie to a political system.

It is difficult for any political system to endure if it lacks the support of its citizens. Feelings of national pride are

considered an affective, emotional tie to a political system.

The System LevelThe System Level

Feelings of popular legitimacy are another foundation for a successful political system. Citizens may grant legitimacy to a

government for different reasons. Tradition, ideology, elections, or religion

In systems with low legitimacy, people often resort to violence or extra-governmental actions to solve political disagreements.

Feelings of popular legitimacy are another foundation for a successful political system. Citizens may grant legitimacy to a

government for different reasons. Tradition, ideology, elections, or religion

In systems with low legitimacy, people often resort to violence or extra-governmental actions to solve political disagreements.

The Process LevelThe Process Level

The second level of the political culture involves what the public expects of the political process.

Broadly speaking, three different patterns describe the citizens’ role in the political process. Participants are involved as actual or potential

participants in the political process. Subjects passively obey government officials and the

law, but they do not vote or actively involve themselves in politics.

Parochials are hardly aware of government and politics.

The second level of the political culture involves what the public expects of the political process.

Broadly speaking, three different patterns describe the citizens’ role in the political process. Participants are involved as actual or potential

participants in the political process. Subjects passively obey government officials and the

law, but they do not vote or actively involve themselves in politics.

Parochials are hardly aware of government and politics.

The Process LevelThe Process Level

Hypothetical examples: How are citizen types distributed within these examples? Modern industrial democracy Industrialized authoritarian society Authoritarian society that is party traditional and

partly modern Democratic pre-industrial system

How does social and economic modernization affect the distribution of citizen types and the political norms of a system?

What has been the nature of modernization across the world?

Hypothetical examples: How are citizen types distributed within these examples? Modern industrial democracy Industrialized authoritarian society Authoritarian society that is party traditional and

partly modern Democratic pre-industrial system

How does social and economic modernization affect the distribution of citizen types and the political norms of a system?

What has been the nature of modernization across the world?

The Policy LevelThe Policy Level

What is the appropriate role of government? Policy expectations vary across the globe. Some policy goals such as economic well-being are

valued by nearly everyone. Variation in terms of what is expected relates to a

nation’s circumstances and cultural traditions. One of the basic measures of government

performance is its ability to meet the policy expectations of its citizens.

Expectations regarding the functioning of government: outputs (providing welfare and security) or process features (rule of law and procedural justice)

What is the appropriate role of government? Policy expectations vary across the globe. Some policy goals such as economic well-being are

valued by nearly everyone. Variation in terms of what is expected relates to a

nation’s circumstances and cultural traditions. One of the basic measures of government

performance is its ability to meet the policy expectations of its citizens.

Expectations regarding the functioning of government: outputs (providing welfare and security) or process features (rule of law and procedural justice)

Consensual or Conflictual Political CulturesConsensual or Conflictual Political Cultures When a country is deeply divided in its

political values and these differences persist over time, distinctive political subcultures may develop. They have sharply different points of view

on some critical political matters, such as the boundaries of the nation, the nature of the regime, or the correct ideology.

Sometimes historical or social factors will generate different cultural trajectories. Ethnic, religious, or linguistic identities Migration

When a country is deeply divided in its political values and these differences persist over time, distinctive political subcultures may develop. They have sharply different points of view

on some critical political matters, such as the boundaries of the nation, the nature of the regime, or the correct ideology.

Sometimes historical or social factors will generate different cultural trajectories. Ethnic, religious, or linguistic identities Migration

Why Culture MattersWhy Culture Matters

Cultural norms typically change slowly and reflect stable values. It encapsulates the history, traditions, and values of

a society. Congruence theory

The distribution of cultural patterns is typically related to the type of political process that citizens expect and support.

Do democracies create a participatory democratic public, or does a political culture lead to a democratic political system?

It works both ways. Political culture can build common political

community, but it can also have the power to divide.

Cultural norms typically change slowly and reflect stable values. It encapsulates the history, traditions, and values of

a society. Congruence theory

The distribution of cultural patterns is typically related to the type of political process that citizens expect and support.

Do democracies create a participatory democratic public, or does a political culture lead to a democratic political system?

It works both ways. Political culture can build common political

community, but it can also have the power to divide.

Political SocializationPolitical Socialization

Political cultures are sustained or changed as people acquire their attitudes and values.

Political socialization refers to the way in which political values are formed and political culture is transmitted from one generation to the next. Most children acquire their basic political values

and behavior patters at a relatively early age. Some attitudes will evolve and change

throughout life.

Political cultures are sustained or changed as people acquire their attitudes and values.

Political socialization refers to the way in which political values are formed and political culture is transmitted from one generation to the next. Most children acquire their basic political values

and behavior patters at a relatively early age. Some attitudes will evolve and change

throughout life.

Political SocializationPolitical Socialization

Three general points about socialization: Socialization can occur in different

ways. Direct socialization

Socialization is a lifelong process. Patterns of socialization can be either

unifying or divisive.

Three general points about socialization: Socialization can occur in different

ways. Direct socialization

Socialization is a lifelong process. Patterns of socialization can be either

unifying or divisive.

Agents of Political SocializationAgents of Political Socialization Individuals, organizations, and institutions that

influence political attitudes. Family Schools Religious institutions

Fundamentalism Peer groups Social class Interest groups Political parties Mass media

Global influence; most people in the world watch television to learn about the world

Individuals, organizations, and institutions that influence political attitudes. Family Schools Religious institutions

Fundamentalism Peer groups Social class Interest groups Political parties Mass media

Global influence; most people in the world watch television to learn about the world

Direct Contact with the GovernmentDirect Contact with the Government

In modern societies, the wide scope of governmental activities bring citizens into frequent contact with bureaucratic agencies.

Personal experiences are powerful agents of socialization.

In modern societies, the wide scope of governmental activities bring citizens into frequent contact with bureaucratic agencies.

Personal experiences are powerful agents of socialization.

Trends Shaping Contemporary Political Cultures

Trends Shaping Contemporary Political Cultures Democratization Marketization

Greater public acceptance of free markets and private profit incentives, rather than a government-managed economy

Globalization

Democratization Marketization

Greater public acceptance of free markets and private profit incentives, rather than a government-managed economy

Globalization

Trends Shaping Contemporary Political Cultures

Trends Shaping Contemporary Political Cultures Political culture is not a static

phenomenon. Encompasses how the agents of political

socialization communicate and interpret historic events and traditional values

Important to understand Influences how citizens act, how the political

process functions, and what policy goals the government pursues

Political culture is not a static phenomenon. Encompasses how the agents of political

socialization communicate and interpret historic events and traditional values

Important to understand Influences how citizens act, how the political

process functions, and what policy goals the government pursues