Political Culture and Socialization

The Cultural Dimension of Politics

• Mass behavior is understandable when examining a society's values and norms

Political Culture

• Political culture is not constant; it changes due to exogenous factors
• Political culture has the ability to transform identity
• People are driven by belief systems
• Norms of society define political culture
• Acceptable societal behavior defines political norms
• Mode of protest is a norm example
• Disruptive protests are discouraged in some societies, but effective in others
• Political values impact action
• Military spending is encouraged by military supporters

Political Socialization

• Political socialization is the transfer of politically relevant political culture from one generation to another
• Socialization is the process of teaching norms and values by specific agents
• The transfer of political culture is not just from agents, economic conditions matter too
• Primary agents wield the most influence
• Secondary agents are less important, but make a significant impact
• Primary agents are closest to an individual
• Agents can influence directly or indirectly
• Family and teachers are primary agents of socialization
• Educators teach the political system and may emphasize obeying authorities
• Parents provide direct lessons
• Friends, religious members, and the media are secondary agents of socialization
• Secondary Agents include friends, religious groups, and media
• There is now more access to news than ever
• Media can influence values, and misinformation can have negative impacts
• Viral social media influences personal values
• There is concern over foreign influence from secondary agents as seen in the 2016 presidential election.
• Research illustrates the importance of social media
• Secondary agents often overlap in values with primary agents

Apartheid South Africa

• In Apartheid South Africa there were conflicting primary and secondary agents
• Norms at home differed from schools and friends, which was confusing for young people
• There was institutionalized racial segregation
• Black people were separated, with whites holding most political power
• Black people comprised the majority of the population
• Apartheid values clashed with democratic values
• Europeans laid the foundation for apartheid
• Resources were kept in control of white interests
• Black Africans were forced to live with decisions made by a white government
• People began to recognize the injustice
• There was armed insurrection against the government
• Nelson Mandela helped transition to a new government

Changing Culture

• Changing culture is a product of generational change and socialization

Generational Political Culture Change: the Case of Postmaterialism

• There is a shift away from materialistic values
• Economic prosperity and environments produce different values
• Lower prosperity will focus on basic needs
• Prosperous individuals can be guilty of taking security for granted
• Economic conditions can shape conditions and society as a whole
• Materialists are concerned with economic stability, where as post-materialists are focused on social issues
• Materialists are less willing to compromise.
• The World Values Survey (WVS) allows for cultural change tracking Inglehart argues that people from the more economically developed parts of the world are shifting from materialist to post-materialist values
• Generational shift is based on economic prosperity or decline

Political Attitudes

• Political attitudes are an established way of thinking expressed in political behavior
• Authority: Hierarchies can be an influnce in respect for authority
• Institutional racism is prevalent in the US
• Attitudes can affect resources
• More effort is needed to maintain power
• Voluntary compliance can lead to less regulation

Society

• Trust in society garners confidence
• Social trust defines inter-group dynamics
• Consensual societies have high levels of trust
• Cooperation is easier and disputes are settled faster
• Contentious societies have low trust between people
• Lack of Inter-group social interactions cause conflict to develop
• Lack of trust causes violent conflicts
• Heterogenous societies are made up of many different groups
• Homogenous societies have similar people
• Differing identities can lead to contention
• Disagreements continue even when a majority exists

Individualism

• Individualism benefits from people being autonomous
• Assigns personal responsibility
• Value is placed on individual decisions
• Collectivists seek cooperation and group effort

Dictatorships

• Dictators' survival is reliant on people attitudes
• Dictators suppress individual freedoms
• Dictators prefer complete ownership or antagonism towards foreigners

Article 9

• Article 9 renounces war for international peace
• It states that war potential will never be maintained and the right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized
• This would influence the Japanese attitudes toward war because of political socialization

Understand mass behavior by examining a society's values and norms. Political culture can transform identity, and people are driven by belief systems. Political socialization transfers political culture across generations.