By Arta Barik
(PhD Research Scholar)
Culture refers to the collective beliefs, customs, values,
and behaviours shared by a group of people. It
encompasses various aspects of human life, including
language, religion, art, cuisine, social norms, and
traditions.
Culture shapes individuals' identities, interactions, and
worldviews, providing a framework for understanding and
interpreting the world around them.
Example:
In Japan, the cultural value of respect for elders is deeply
ingrained in society.
For instance, during family gatherings, younger members
show deference to their elders by serving them food first
and addressing them with appropriate titles.
Political culture refers to the attitudes, beliefs, values,
and norms that underlie the operation of a political
system.
It encompasses the ways in which people view and
engage with politics, including their understanding of
government, their expectations of political
institutions, and their perceptions of political
processes.
Political culture is often deeply ingrained in society
and can shape political behaviour, decision-making,
and the overall functioning of a political system.
Ideological diversity: Political culture encompasses a
spectrum of beliefs and ideologies shaping citizens'
perceptions and engagement with the political system.
Civic engagement: Political culture fosters a sense of civic
duty and participation among citizens, influencing their
involvement in political processes and institutions.
Power distribution: Political culture reflects societal norms
and attitudes towards the distribution of power among
different branches of government and societal groups.
National identity: Political culture often plays a role in
defining and reinforcing a shared national identity,
influencing perceptions of collective values and priorities.
Almond and Verba first time used the term
political culture
Almond and Verba developed the concept of
political culture in their seminal work "The Civic
Culture: Political Attitudes and Democracy in Five
Nations" (1963).
that explored the relationship between citizen
participation and citizens’ attitudes toward their
political system, based on surveys conducted in
the United States, the United Kingdom, West
Germany, Italy, and Mexico
Three types of political orientations:
Cognitive orientations- refers low and small
knowledge about political object
Affective orientations- refers involment
knowledge about political object
Evaluative orientations- refers judgment
knowledge about political object
Cognitive orientation:
Sarah, who has low knowledge about climate change, listens to the discussion but
doesn't contribute much. She may not fully understand the scientific aspects or the
potential impacts of the policy due to her limited knowledge.
Affective orientation:
John, who is actively involved in environmental activism, passionately expresses his
support for the policy. He has a strong emotional connection to the issue of climate
change and is deeply invested in seeing effective measures implemented.
Evaluative orientation:
Emily, who has a good understanding of climate science and policy analysis, carefully
evaluates the proposed policy. She considers its potential effectiveness, cost, and impact
on various stakeholders before forming her judgment. Based on her evaluation, she may
support or oppose the policy.
In this example, Sarah represents cognitive orientation as she has low knowledge about the political
object (climate change policy), John represents affective orientation as he is emotionally involved, and
Emily represents evaluative orientation as she assesses the policy based on knowledge and judgment.
Parochial Political Culture: Characterized by citizens have
neither knowledge of nor interest in politics or low levels
of political participation and citizens' limited awareness of
the political system. This type is often found in traditional
societies.
Subject Political Culture: in which citizens largely obey but
participate little, they may engage in political activities but
lack a sense of efficacy.
Participant Political Culture: This type of political culture is
characterized by active citizen involvement in politics, high
levels of political awareness, and a sense of efficacy. It is
considered conducive to democratic governance.
Almond and Verba’s core idea was that
democracy will prove most stable in societies
where subject and parochial attitudes provide
ballast to an essentially participant culture.
This mix is known as civic culture.
In Almond and Verba’s study, Britain and, to a
lesser extent, the United States came closest
to this ideal. In both countries, the citizens
felt that they could influence the government.
Traditional Political Culture: In societies with a traditional political
culture, there is a strong emphasis on historical customs, traditional
authority structures, and established social hierarchies. People in
such cultures may have a deep respect for authority figures and may
be resistant to change.
Civic Political Culture: Civic political culture emphasizes
participation, active citizenship, and a commitment to democratic
principles. In societies with a civic political culture, people are more
likely to be engaged in political processes, value individual rights
and freedoms, and hold government accountable.
Subject Political Culture: Subject political culture is characterized by
a passive acceptance of authority and a lack of involvement in
political affairs. People in societies with a subject political culture
may feel disconnected from the political process, lack trust in
political institutions, and may be reluctant to challenge government
authority.
Parochial Political Culture: Parochial political culture is often found in small,
close-knit communities where there is little distinction between the individual
and the state. People in such cultures may have limited awareness of broader
political issues and may rely heavily on local authorities for governance.
