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Political Culture

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Source:•Michael G. Roskin, Robert L. Cord, James A. Medeiros, & Walter S. Jones. (2012). Political Science: An Introduction. New York: Pearson Longman.

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Political Culture

Norms & values of a people

Including ideas of how the

political system should operate

Different in each country

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Political Culture

History

Economy

ReligionFolkways

Endure for

centuries

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Political Culture & Public Opinion

Both examine attitudes toward

politics

Both use surveys with different

questions

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Political Culture vs. Public Opinion

Pol culture focus on general values

Pol culture is relatively stable during good times

Public opinion focuses on current leaders & policies

Public opinion—if stable—comes political

culture

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Political Participation in the U.S.A.

Only 50% participate in national elections; less in state elections

“Sleeping dogs” theory: pay attention only with scandals, war, & economic catastrophe

“Rule of anticipated reaction:” politicians behave based on

their prediction of how public reacts to polciies

U.S. citizens are prouder of their political system than any other country; greater faith in their

democracy

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Civil Society

Closely linked to political

culture

Used to explain

growth or lack of

democracy

A dynamic & developed

civil society is the

foundation of democracy

Without civil society,

democracy may not develop

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3 Political Cultures (Almond & Verba)

Participant: people are

active citizens & closely watch

politics

Subject: more passive

Parochial: don’t care

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Each Country Has Mixture of Political Culture

Participant

Subject

Parochial

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Decay of Political Culture

Cynicism in developed countries; decline in turnout

“culture wars”

polarize electorate

U.S. tendency to

form associations

(w/c stabilizes

politics) is on the decline

More educated

citizens are more willing

to criticize society &

government to improve democracy

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U.S. Trust in Government

Copyright @ 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Political Subcultures

Elite Mass

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Political Subcultures

Elites: better educated & wealthy are more

participatory; they know how to take care of their own interests politically better

Mass: Uneducated & poor lack confidence; lower

political efficacy

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Minority Subcultures

Groups with a different

language who don’t like being

ruled by the dominant

culture

The country maybe

threatened if the culture are

very distinct

Often marginalized;

Question: should they be integrated into

the political system?

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Political Socialization

Process whereby we obtain our life-long political values &

orienttions

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Agents of Socialization

Family

School

Peer Groups

Mass Media

Government

Others

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Reference:•Michael G. Roskin, Robert L. Cord, James A. Medeiros, & Walter S. Jones. (2012). Political Science: An Introduction. New York: Pearson Longman.

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