Post on 13-Dec-2015
Chapter Three
Political Culture and Political Socialization
Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Political Culture and Political SocializationPolitical Culture and Political Socialization
Each nation has own political norms that influence how people think about politics
The way political institutions function affects the public’s attitudes, norms, expectations
Political Culture: public attitudes toward politics and its role within political system
Political Socialization: how individuals form political attitudes and political culture
Each nation has own political norms that influence how people think about politics
The way political institutions function affects the public’s attitudes, norms, expectations
Political Culture: public attitudes toward politics and its role within political system
Political Socialization: how individuals form political attitudes and political culture
Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
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: Political System Political and Policymaking Process Policy Outputs and Outcomes
A nation’s political culture includes its citizens’ orientations at three levels: Political System Political and Policymaking Process Policy Outputs and Outcomes
Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Mapping the Three Levels of Political CultureMapping the Three Levels of Political Culture System Level: how people view
values and organizations that comprise the political system
Process Level: expectations of how politics should function and individuals’ relationship to political process
Policy Level: public’s policy expectations for government
System Level: how people view values and organizations that comprise the political system
Process Level: expectations of how politics should function and individuals’ relationship to political process
Policy Level: public’s policy expectations for government
Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
The System LevelThe System Level
Difficult for political system to endure lacking support of citizens National pride is effective emotional tie Legitimacy: basic understanding
between citizens and political officials people obey laws, government meets
obligations Systems with low legitimacy:
people often resort to violence to solve political disagreements
Difficult for political system to endure lacking support of citizens National pride is effective emotional tie Legitimacy: basic understanding
between citizens and political officials people obey laws, government meets
obligations Systems with low legitimacy:
people often resort to violence to solve political disagreements
Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
The Process LevelThe Process Level
Second level of political culture involves what public expects from political process:Patterns changing in recent yearsBroad support for democratic principles: participatory process, majority rules, minority rights, political toleranceNondemocratic forms of governance no longer acceptedGlobal marketplace connects more people to domestic and international politicsModernization through work, education, media has powerful effect on traditions and legitimacy
Second level of political culture involves what public expects from political process:Patterns changing in recent yearsBroad support for democratic principles: participatory process, majority rules, minority rights, political toleranceNondemocratic forms of governance no longer acceptedGlobal marketplace connects more people to domestic and international politicsModernization through work, education, media has powerful effect on traditions and legitimacy
Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
The Policy LevelThe Policy Level
What is the appropriate role of government? Government or private sector
management of economy? Government intervention in social/moral
issues? Big government versus small government?
Basic measure of government performance is ability to meet policy expectations of citizens
Expectations regarding function of government: Outputs: welfare and security Process: rule of law and procedural justice
What is the appropriate role of government? Government or private sector
management of economy? Government intervention in social/moral
issues? Big government versus small government?
Basic measure of government performance is ability to meet policy expectations of citizens
Expectations regarding function of government: Outputs: welfare and security Process: rule of law and procedural justice
Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Consensual or Conflictual Political CulturesConsensual or Conflictual Political Cultures
A country deeply divided in its political values with differences persisting over time, may develop distinctive political subcultures: sharply different points of view on
critical political matters different cultural trajectories based on
historical or social factors (ethnicity, religion, linguistics)
groups increase in skills and confidence and demand equal treatment
A country deeply divided in its political values with differences persisting over time, may develop distinctive political subcultures: sharply different points of view on
critical political matters different cultural trajectories based on
historical or social factors (ethnicity, religion, linguistics)
groups increase in skills and confidence and demand equal treatment
Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Why Culture MattersWhy Culture Matters
Cultural norms change slowly and reflect stable values
Encapsulate history, traditions, values of society Congruence Theory:
Distribution of cultural patterns typically related to type of political process citizens expect and support
Do democracies create participatory democratic systems, or does a political culture lead to a democratic political system?
Political culture can build common political community
Political culture can also have the power to divide
Cultural norms change slowly and reflect stable values
Encapsulate history, traditions, values of society Congruence Theory:
Distribution of cultural patterns typically related to type of political process citizens expect and support
Do democracies create participatory democratic systems, or does a political culture lead to a democratic political system?
Political culture can build common political community
Political culture can also have the power to divide
Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Political SocializationPolitical Socialization
Political socialization refers to way political values are formed and political culture is transmitted from one generation to next
Three general points about socialization: Socialization can occur in different ways:
Direct Socialization Indirect Socialization
Socialization is a lifelong process Patterns of socialization can be unifying
or divisive
Political socialization refers to way political values are formed and political culture is transmitted from one generation to next
Three general points about socialization: Socialization can occur in different ways:
Direct Socialization Indirect Socialization
Socialization is a lifelong process Patterns of socialization can be unifying
or divisiveCopyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Agents of Political SocializationAgents of Political Socialization Individuals, organizations, institutions that
influence political attitudes: Family Social Groups and Identities Schools Peer Groups Interest Groups Political Parties Mass Media Direct Contact with the Government
Sources of political socialization determine content of what is learned about politics
Ability of a nation to recreate political culture in successive generations is important factor in perpetuating political system
Individuals, organizations, institutions that influence political attitudes: Family Social Groups and Identities Schools Peer Groups Interest Groups Political Parties Mass Media Direct Contact with the Government
Sources of political socialization determine content of what is learned about politics
Ability of a nation to recreate political culture in successive generations is important factor in perpetuating political system
Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Trends Shaping Contemporary Political Cultures
Trends Shaping Contemporary Political Cultures Democratization: modernization
eroded legitimacy of nondemocratic ideologies; increased citizens’ claims for equal participation in policymaking
Marketization: increased acceptance of free-market over government control of economy
Globalization: increasing international interactions expose people to norms of other nations
Democratization: modernization eroded legitimacy of nondemocratic ideologies; increased citizens’ claims for equal participation in policymaking
Marketization: increased acceptance of free-market over government control of economy
Globalization: increasing international interactions expose people to norms of other nations
Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.