CHARACTERISTICS OF POLITICAL CULTURE​

Topic Cover –BA Sem-II Modern Political Theory

Submitted By

Dr. Jiwan Devi

Dept. of Political Science

HMV Jalandhar, Punjab, India

INTRODUCTION

• The concept of the political culture is the contribution of the important change introduced in the study of political science during the 20th century.
• It was in 1956 that the American political scientist, Gabriel  Almond used this concept for the first time in his essay entitled, ‘comparative political science’.
• Thereafter, number of American political thinkers including Samuel Beer, Dennis Kavanagh, Sidney Verba and Lucien Pye explained in details this concept of political culture in there.​

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Meaning And Definitions​�Of Political​�Culture​

• The meaning of political culture is sum total of the people’s beliefs, values, devotion ​and feeling about politics is called Political culture.
• In this connection Beer and Ulma  culture is certain aspects of the general culture of the society are especially concerned with how Government ought to be conducted​
• According to Almond and Powel, Political culture is the pattern of individual attitudes and orientations toward politics among the members of a political system.

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COMPONENTS OF POLITICAL CULTURE ​

 While studying Political culture we try to understand values, belief and emotions of the people to political system ​

• Cognitive Orientation- When cognitive orientation is implied by the amount and the type of the knowledge which the people posses about  political problems and events.​
• Effective Orientation-By effective Orientation, we imply the amount of devotion and interest of people towards their political system.​
• Evaluative Orientation-Each political system has certain objectives to achieve. For the fulfillment of these objectives, the political system undertakes certain functions.​

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CHARACTERISTICS​�OF POLITICAL​�CULTURE​

1. Political Culture is a Universal Concept-
1. We already know that political culture is a set of beliefs, values and emotions of the people about political system in a country.
2. Thus each political system should possess a distinctive political culture.
3.  Whatever be the nature of the government in a state, the people may or may not be educated and they may or may not possess political consciousness but they must possess a distinctive viewpoint about politics.​

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2.Political Culture is a Comprehensive Concept-

• Political culture is a set of beliefs values and sentiments of the people about the political system in a state.
• As the common culture of the people of the state includes their style of leaving, their habits about food and dress, customs, and conventions, beliefs and their values of life.​

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3.Every Political System Has Distinctive Culture-

• Every continent has every state possesses a distinctive political culture.
• The Liberal Democratic Political Systes possess a different political culture.
• Similarly the political culture of the developed states is different from that of the developing states. ​

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4.Political Culture is a part of General Culture-

• Ever country possesses a distinctive common culture and the political culture is part of the general culture of that country.
• It may also be termed as an off shoot or a sub culture of general culture.
• The general culture possesses the complete beliefs, values, and customs etc. but we include only political attitude, political association​

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5.PoliticalCulture influence Political System- 

• The influence of the political culture on the efficiency of a political system is quite natural.
• For example, if the people lack political consciousness, the running of a democratic government may well be doubted.
• England possesses no written constitution and still the political institutions of the country running efficiently​

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6.Political Culture has its own Sub Culture –

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•  Each political culture has its own numerous sub cultures of its own.
• The ruling class is also called Elite class It’s political culture is different from that of ruling class​

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7.Political Culture is larger than construction structures-

•  The constitutional structure include only the formal instructions whereas political culture include both the formal and informal influences.
• For example, the constitution of India provides for universal adult franchise but the use of the right to vote is influenced by race, caste, religion, beliefs and economic structure.​

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8.The concept of Political Culture is a Subjective Nature- 

The nature of the concept of political culture is subjective because while analyzing political culture we as a general rule, study the view point and sentiments of the people about political system ​

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9.Political Culture is a dynamic Concept-

•  Political culture is a dynamic concept and it keeps on changing with time.
• Whatever social, economic and intellectual progress takes place it certainly affects the political values and beliefs of the people​

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10. Interaction between Political Culture and Political System-  

• There is a close relationship between political culture and political system as a result of which an interaction keeps on taking place.
• Political System influences the political culture and vice versa. ​

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CONCLUSION

• The political culture is the contribution of the important change introduced in the study of political science during the 20th century.
• Political culture is the part of the general culture and it is the combination of political values, beliefs and emotions etc of the people.
• Though the political culture differs from country to country, yet it is a universal concept​.

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THANK YOU!