Chapter 7
Cultural Determinants of Democracy and Dictatorship
Overview: Examines the interplay between culture and governance, questioning if certain cultures are inherently incompatible with democracy.
Types of Cultural Arguments
Primordialist Arguments: Culture is viewed as objective and inherited, unchanged over time.
Constructivist Arguments: Culture is seen as constructed or invented, changeable based on societal influences.
Historical Context of Cultural Arguments
Aeschylus (472 BC): Posited that authoritarianism suited Asia while democracy suited Athens.
Montesquieu: Advocated that different government forms suit different cultures; argued that democracy is historically contingent and not universally applicable.
John Stuart Mill: Asserted that cultural predispositions affect governance capabilities, but acknowledged malleability in culture; societies can adapt to new ideas over time.
The Importance of Civic Culture
Almond and Verba (1965): Identified three political culture types:
Parochial: Traditional systems with minimal political engagement (e.g., certain African tribes).
Subject: Centralized authoritarian systems.
Participant/Civic: Democratic systems reliant on active citizen engagement.
Civic Culture Components:
High interpersonal trust
Support for existing political systems
Life satisfaction
Inglehart and Welzel's Cultural Dimensions
Dimensions of Variation:
Traditional vs. Secular-Rational Values
Survival vs. Self-Expression Values
Traditional Values: Emphasize religion, authority, and nationalism.
Secular-Rational Values: Focus on individualism, gender equality, and a more relaxed moral outlook on issues like divorce and euthanasia.
Survival Values: Prioritize economic security and exhibit distrust.
Self-Expression Values: Embrace equality and democratic participation.
Cultural Modernization Theory
Inglehart and Welzel's View: Economic development leads to predictable cultural changes that foster democracy. The transition phases include:
Pre-Industrialization: High fertility, low education, and high religiosity.
Industrialization: Growth in science, education, and bureaucratic systems.
Post-Industrialization: Shift toward self-expression values, including concerns like environmentalism and social justice.
Challenges of Modernization
While rapid technological and cultural advancements brought higher living standards, they also led to increased inequalities and disruptions in traditional structures. This contributed to political unrest and the rise of populism.
Cultural Compatibility and Democracy
Cultural Determinism Critique: Assumes cultures are immutable; does not account for internal diversities and adaptability.
Religion’s Role: Arguments made on how religions (e.g., Protestantism vs. Catholicism) historically impact democratic governance capabilities.
Protestantism: Favored due to promoting individualism and capitalism.
Catholicism: Viewed as less conducive to democracy due to hierarchical structures.
Confucianism and Islam: Critically associated with authoritarianism, but cultural interpretations suggest potential compatibility with democratic values under certain conditions.
Role of Cultural Entrepreneurs
Cultural Configuration Theory: Political change is influenced by cultural entrepreneurs who redefine cultural structures and norms, enabling rapid societal change relative to static cultural contexts.
Fluidity in Culture: Cultures that are adaptable and allow for varying configurations support democratic transitions more readily than rigid, primordial cultures.
Conclusion
Cultural factors are significant in the emergence and sustainability of democratic governance. The interplay of culture, economic change, and responsive political structures creates a complex landscape where democratic sustainability depends on a favorable cultural environment that supports democratic ideals over authoritarian tendencies.