1. 1 Political culture Political Culture & Political Socialization

2. This week 1.Political culture and how to study it 2.Political socialization 3.The media and politics 2

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

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 4

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 5 Gabriel Almond,1911-2002 Sidney Verba, 1932- West Germany* United States United Kingdom Mexico Italy

6. 3 dimensions of political culture produce 3 types of political culture Dimensions of political culture 1.Knowledge 2.Feelings 3.Judgment Types of political culture 1.Parochial (traditional) 2.Subject 3.Participatory 6 The three types of political culture don’t exist in pure form Most societies exhibit a mix of the three types Almond & Verba

7. Always mixing The 3 types of political culture Parochial No awareness of a central government No separation between local government & society Minimal specialization is social roles Acceptance of social order 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 7 Participatory 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 Almond & Verba

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

9. Ronald Inglehart, 1934- More recent studies of political culture: the rising post-material culture 9 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 Inglehart

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

11. Subcultures & post-materialism 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 11 Inglehart

12. Politics in a post-material age 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 12 Inglehart

13. Political socialization 13

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 14

15. State-driven socialization The “official” culture & historyofficial 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? 15

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

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

18. The media and politics 18

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” 19 A great show: On the Media from National Public Radio (US)On the Media

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? 20

21. The “doughnut model” of journalism Limits of journalism 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 21 Consensus Legitimate contro- versy & room for options Marginal views & unacceptable options “Freedom of the press exists for those who own one” —Benjamin Franklin

22. Media, advertisers, and viewers 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 22 Canadians & their news 38% television 8% radio 23% newspaper 1% mobile phone 30% computer Source: Canadian Media Research ConsortiumCanadian 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. 23