Political Culture, Participation, and Socialization PDF

POLITICAL CULTURE POLITICAL PARTICIPATION POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION  POLITICAL CULTURE, PARTICIPATION & SOCIALIZATION 1. Political culture 2. Types and impact 3. Political participation 4. Political socialization & changing values ...

POLITICAL CULTURE POLITICAL PARTICIPATION POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION  POLITICAL CULTURE, PARTICIPATION & SOCIALIZATION 1. Political culture 2. Types and impact 3. Political participation 4. Political socialization & changing values  POLITICAL CULTURE Socially shared meanings, values, beliefs and attitudes about politics That part of culture that is relevant to politics ‘The fundamental political values, beliefs and orientations that are widely held within a political community.’ Affects confidence, trust, & expectations of government and politicians Shapes political awareness & participation  Bases of political cultures and sub-cultures POLITICAL CULTURE ‒ History / traditions ‒ Political experiences - Democracy/rights/freedom ‒ Language - Equality - Ideology/religion ‒ French/English - Individualistic/ community-focused ‒ Region ‒ Maritimes, Quebec, RoC, prairies, ‘the West’ ‒ Rural/urban ‒ US: north/south ‒ Ethnicity ‒ Gender ‒ Age/generation ‒ Class ‒ Elites/ ‘ordinary people’ Types of political culture POLITICAL CULTURE Parochial Low awareness/expectations of gov’t No/little participation in politics Subject Some political awareness Not oriented to participate/affect gov’t Participant Political awareness Oriented to affect what gov’t does Civic political culture A mixture of subject and participant roles among the population  POLITICAL CULTURE Political efficacy ‘The attitude that individuals think that they can have an impact on political decisions and that government is responsive to what people want.’ ‒ Decreasing ‒ Less confidence in federal politicians, mass media & political parties ‒ E.g. ‘the swamp’ in the U.S. ‒ Greater confidence in the justice British Columbia Legislature system, municipal government  POLITICAL CULTURE Distortions Media Social media Clicks, shares… Negative/sensational attracts audience Political leaders Raise funds, support Political system Does not reward cooperation/collaboration Studies show that we have more in common than appears  Voting POLITICAL PARTICIPATION Turnout is declining Usually higher in competitive elections, in proportional systems May diminish due to apathy, disgust, insufficient meaningful choice, sense that it won’t make a difference Complexity To qualify/register Of the ballot [e.g. U.S.] Volunteering  POLITICAL PARTICIPATION Joining/supporting a political party Interest group participation/support Social movement participation/support Protests/demonstrations Boycotts Petitions Factors affecting participation POLITICAL PARTICIPATION Age Younger people are less likely to vote unless effectively motivated – e.g. 2015 Canada, 2008 U.S., 2010 Calgary More likely to engage with interest groups, protests Education/social class Gender Political attitudes, interest, knowledge Civic engagement  POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION ‘The processes by which the values, attitudes, and beliefs of the political culture are transmitted to members of the political community’ Family Peers Education Media/social media Workplace Religious organizations Unions Groups/organizations: interest groups, parties…  POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION State education/propaganda ‘civics education’ - democracies Understanding of political system Values – e.g. respect/tolerance of difference Propaganda Ideology, religion Threats, enemies Military training  POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION Postmaterialist values Emerge among those who have grown up in security and affluence Non-materialist values like freedom of expression, quality of life, environment… Postmaterialist theory Modern [Western] societies have been transformed by security and affluence to prioritize postmaterialist values Impact on politics More citizen activism, questioning authority, ‘new political parties and new social movements … new types of issues… more liberal social values.’