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11214unit 4

Political culture is the shared attitudes, values, beliefs, and norms regarding politics and governance within a society, influencing how individuals perceive their political system. It has historical roots, is shaped through socialization, and can change over time, existing on multiple levels. Various types of political culture include civic culture, moralistic, individualistic, and traditionalistic cultures, each affecting citizen participation and government roles.

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11 views3 pages

11214unit 4

Political culture is the shared attitudes, values, beliefs, and norms regarding politics and governance within a society, influencing how individuals perceive their political system. It has historical roots, is shaped through socialization, and can change over time, existing on multiple levels. Various types of political culture include civic culture, moralistic, individualistic, and traditionalistic cultures, each affecting citizen participation and government roles.

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Arundhati
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Unit:4

Political Culture: Meaning, nature and types.

Political culture refers to the collection of attitudes, values, beliefs, and


norms about politics and governance that are shared by a group of people.
It shapes how individuals within a society view their political system and
their role within it. Understanding political culture is essential for
comprehending how political systems function and how citizens interact
with their government.

Meaning

Political culture encompasses the deep-seated, long-lasting aspects of


political life that influence the behavior of individuals and institutions. It
includes:

• Attitudes towards authority: Whether people are deferential to


authority or skeptical and questioning.
• Beliefs about the role of government: Views on what government
should or should not do.
• Expectations of political processes: How fair and effective people
believe political processes are.
• Political values: Core values such as liberty, equality, democracy,
and justice.

Nature

The nature of political culture is complex and multifaceted:

1. Historical Roots: Political culture often has deep historical roots,


influenced by a nation's history, traditions, and significant events.
2. Socialization: It is transmitted through political socialization
processes, such as family, education, media, and peer groups.
3. Dynamic: While political culture is relatively stable, it can change
over time due to major events, social movements, or generational
shifts.
4. Layered: It can exist on multiple levels – national, regional, and
local – and may vary among different subgroups within a society.

Types

Political culture can be categorized into several types, often described by


political scientists in different models. Here are a few prominent types:

1. Almond and Verba's Civic Culture:


o Parochial Political Culture: Citizens are mostly uninformed
and unaware of political processes, with little interest in
politics. This type is often found in traditional societies.
o Subject Political Culture: Citizens are somewhat informed
and aware but are mostly passive. They are subject to the
decisions made by the ruling authorities without much input or
participation.
o Participant Political Culture: Citizens are well-informed and
actively participate in political processes. This type is typical
of democratic societies where individuals feel they can
influence government actions.
2. Gabriel Almond and Sidney Verba’s Typology:
o Civic Culture: A mix of participant, subject, and parochial
cultures. It represents a balanced political culture where
citizens actively participate but also accept the decisions of the
authorities.
3. Daniel Elazar's Political Culture Classification:
o Moralistic Political Culture: Government is seen as a
positive force to achieve a good society. High levels of citizen
participation are expected.
o Individualistic Political Culture: Politics is viewed as a
marketplace of competing interests. The role of government is
limited, and citizen participation is less emphasized.
o Traditionalistic Political Culture: Politics is dominated by
an elite, with limited participation from the general populace.
Government's role is to maintain the existing social order.
4. Subjective Political Culture:
o Involves the personal orientations and internalized attitudes
towards the political system. This can be shaped by personal
experiences and individual psychological factors.

Understanding political culture is crucial for policymakers, political


analysts, and scholars as it influences the stability of political systems, the
effectiveness of governance, and the nature of political change.

❖ Prepared by
Arijit Chowdhury, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Political Science

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