09 Political culture

Political Culture and Its Elements

• Definition: Soft elements of a political system, encompassing traditions, orientations, attitudes, values, sentiments, norms, beliefs, and perceptions.

• Components: Includes cognitive, affective, and evaluative elements.

• Attitudes include:

  • Towards the political system (satisfaction with regime and institutions).

  • Towards procedures (levels of political participation).

  • Towards policies (values such as freedom, equality, security).

• Forms: Can be normative (what should be) or descriptive (what is).

Classic Authors in Political Culture Research

• Key study: "The Civic Culture" by Gabriel Almond and Sidney Verba (1963).

• Thesis: Political culture affects behavior, legitimizes regimes and institutions, and influences power dynamics.

Empirical Findings on Political Cultures in Five Nations

• USA and UK: Active citizens trusting institutions; support government objectives.

• Germany: High confidence in government; formalism; strong civil society.

• Italy: Political alienation; perceived corruption; low activism.

• Mexico: Familiarity with institutions; strong community ties; openness to charismatic leaders.

• Cultural patterns vary but typically include a dominant culture with subcultures.

Types of Political Culture (Almond and Verba)

• Three Types:

  • Parochial Culture: Low political awareness; localism prevails.

  • Subject Culture: Awareness of political center; passive citizens.

  • Participant Culture: Informed and active citizens; high engagement with political processes.

• Ideal Type: Civic Culture - blending participant culture with subject attitudes; active locals who respect state authority.

Political Socialization

• Definition: Process of learning societal values, customs, and political norms.

• Political Socialization: Introduction to political community shaping values and behavior.

• Methods: Can be direct (discussions, education) or indirect (media, cultural products).

• Agents: Family, schools, peer groups, mass media, organizations, political figures, and cultural influencers.

• Outcome: Transmission or transformation of political culture.

Research Directions in Political Culture

• Focus Areas:

  • Support for regimes and democratic satisfaction.

  • Trust in political institutions.

  • Engagement and electoral behavior.

  • Partisanship and political polarisation.

  • Cultural homogeneity vs. diversity.

Features of Hungarian Political Culture

• Characteristics: Pessimism, passivity, and political cynicism.

• Historical Context:

  • Communist legacy: Autonomy issues and enforced loyalty.

  • Post-regime changes: Disillusionment with democracy and civic activity.

• Current issues: Deep divisions within society.

Political Cleavages

• Definition: Social divisions influencing political interests and identities.

• General Concept: Institutionalized divides are significant for collective identity and political choices.

• Kriesi's Dimensions:

  • Cleavages based on social structure (occupation, ethnicity).

  • Membership awareness leads to acting on collective identity.

Classic Cleavage Theory**

• Key Study: Martin Seymour Lipset and Stein Rokkan (1967).

• Proposed Cleavages:

  • Cultural vs. Economic cleavages from national/civic and industrial revolutions.

  • Examples: Rural vs. urban, State vs. Church, Class divisions.

  • Reinforcing vs. Cross-cutting Factors: Relationships between cleavages may enhance or balance political party structures.

Revision of Classic Cleavage Theory**

• Observed Trends: Stability of party systems (1920s-1960s) and changing social dynamics.

• Impacts:

  • Declining church attendance, social structure shifts.

  • New social issues arise leading to post-materialist cleavages.

Hungarian Political Cleavages**

• Identified Cleavages:

  • Post-communist vs. anti-communist.

  • Rural vs. urban (notably in Budapest).

  • Religious identity and generational divides