Chapter Three Political Culture and Political Socialization Political Culture and Political Socialization Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education,

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


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


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


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



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



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



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


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



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


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


Documents

Chapter Three Political Culture and Political Socialization Political Culture and Political Socialization Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education,