Political Culture & Political Socialization

1. Political Culture& Political Socialization Political culture

2. This week • Political culture and how to study it • Political socialization • The media and politics

3. Political cultureWorld Values Survey database(based on Ronald Inglehart’s work)

4. Definition of political culture • “Set of attitudes, beliefs, and values that underpin any political system”, McLean and Wood, Politics: An Introduction, p. 187 • Refers to dominant characteristics • Explains people’s views about political issues • Explains political behaviours • Explains policies adopted by rulers

5. The first study of political culture • Gabriel Almond & Sidney Verba, The Civic Culture: Political Attitudes and Democracy in Five Nations* (1965) • Question: what kind of political culture makes democracy possible? • Conducted through interviews & polls Sidney Verba, 1932- Gabriel Almond ,1911-2002 West Germany* United States United Kingdom Mexico Italy

6. 3 dimensions of political culture produce 3 types of political culture Almond & Verba Dimensions of political culture Types of political culture Parochial (traditional) Subject Participatory • Knowledge • Feelings • Judgment • The three types of political culture don’t exist in pure form • Most societies exhibit a mix of the three types

7. The 3 types of political culture Almond & Verba Participatory Parochial Subject Awareness of central gov. Clear separation between gov. & society Specialization in social roles Hierarchy of rulers & ruled power flows downward obedience no questioning & expectation of change • Awareness of central government • Clear separation between government & society • Specialization in social roles • Expectation of society members to influence rulers • as individuals • as groups • State acts as a neutral actor • No awareness of a central government • No separation between local government & society • Minimal specialization is social roles • Acceptance of social order Always mixing

8. Ideal culture according to them: the “civic culture” Almond & Verba • A mix of participatory culture… • … and subject culture • The civic culture is a pre-condition to a functioning democracy (not its cause)

9. Inglehart More recent studies of political culture: the rising post-material culture • Ronald Inglehart, The Silent Revolution: Changing Values and Political Style among Western Publics (1977) • Material values on the decline • Post-material values • self-expression • identity politics • pleasure-seeking • Not necessarily a one-way progression, not irreversible Ronald Inglehart, 1934-

10. Materialist vs. post-materialist values Inglehart • Using Abraham Maslow’s pyramid of needs Post-materialist values Possible overlap? Materialist values

11. Subcultures & post-materialism Inglehart • Subculture have always existed • Proliferating since ’60s • Dissatisfaction with dominant culture • From “voice” to “exit” • wanting & seeking more responsive rulers • tuning out when rulers fail to respond • less voting, less attention to (political) news • other forms of social engagement

12. Politics in a post-material age Inglehart • From citizens to consumers • “I pay taxes” • “what’s the government doing for me?” • Rise of political marketing • market research & data collection • pinpointing potential voters • targeted policies • Appeal to lifestyle • May or may not have coherent vision

13. Political socialization

14. Defining political socialization “Process through which individuals are educated and assimilated into the political culture of a community”, MacLean and Wood, Politics: An Introduction, p. 190 • Multiple agents of socialization • Dependent on social settings, news sources, etc. • Happens unconsciously

15. State-driven socialization • The “official” culture & history • Politicians’ speeches • Content of policies & justifications given • The measure of success • how many people repeat the “official” line? • does the official line change to placate (some of) the people?

16. The educational system • Very important • Disputes over curriculum • Nature of teacher-student relations • May lose out over time

17. Family • First site of socialization • Direct • Indirect • Crucial early, then less so, then significant again

18. The media and politics

19. The mass-media • Reach mass audience • news: television, radio, major newspapers • entertainment: TV shows, books, movies, music • all-you-can-eat buffet: what about the World Wide Web? • Select, filter & represent “reality” A great show: On the Media from National Public Radio (US)

20. Representing “reality” • “Reality” cannot be represented • “Objectivity” & “facts” • “An image is worth a thousand words”, or is it? • Choices must be made, but which choices?

21. Marginal views & unacceptable options Limits of journalism Legitimate contro- versy & room for options Consensus • Freedom of speech & freedom of the press • Journalists are workers in a corporation • Heavy workload: news cycle & tight deadlines • The Web & the fragmentation of news journalism: not one doughnut, but many The “doughnut model” of journalism “Freedom of the press exists for those who own one” —Benjamin Franklin

22. Media, advertisers, and viewers This program is brought to you by… • Media’s revenues • advertising • Subscriptions (cable TV, mags, newspapers) • Selling viewers to advertisers • entertaining & “informing” audiences • … without upsetting advertisers • Media concentration: few sources & limited range of views Canadians & their news 38% television 8% radio 23% newspaper 1% mobile phone 30% computer Source: Canadian Media Research Consortium

23. To conclude As a set of understandings, values, attitudes, and principles, political culture is shaped by numerous agents of socialization who transmit to their audience their views of what the society is or should be like. The resulting political culture is thought to explain the political behaviour of individuals and groups in the society and their relations with the political system. The mass media have a particularly important role in shaping political culture and public opinion.