Political Culture

1. Political Culture It is a set of values beliefs, emotions and view points of the people about their political system of a state. It was in 1956 that in the American political system Gabriel Almond used this concept for the first time in his essay entitled, “Comparative Political System”.

2. Characteristics of Political Culture • Political culture is a universal concept. • It is a comprehensive concept. • Every political system has distinctive culture. • Political culture is a part of General Culture. • Political culture influences Political systems. • Political culture is a part of the general culture.

3. Political culture influences political system. • The concept of political culture is subjective in nature. • Political culture is larger than constitutional Structures. • Political culture is a dynamic concept. • Political culture has its own sub cultures.

4. Subcultures Within national political cultures, there are subcultures, characterizing political attitudes of different groups within society. In conflictual cultures, there are deep rifts between subcultures. The rifts are caused by such factors as: Class Ethnicity or race Religion Regional differences

5. Component of political culture • Cognitive Orientation:- It is implied by the amount and the type of the knowledge which the people posses about political problems and events • Effective Orientation:- It implies the amount of devotion and interest of the people toward their political system • Evaluative orientation:- While evaluating their political system people try to know if the political system has achieved the objective which it had sought to achieve it.

6. Political values • Political beliefs • Emotional attitudes

7. Determinants of Political Culture • Historical factors • Geographical factors • Social factors • Economic factors • Spread of education • Radio and Television • Newspapers and Televisions • Political parties • Ideological basis of political system

8. A Morphological Illustration of Political Culture Almond’ Analysis Civic Culture Unmixed political culture Mixed political culture Parochial Subject Participant political culture political culture political culture Parochial subject Subject Participant Parochial Participant political culture political culture Parochial Participant

9. Secularisation of political culture With the passage of time, the political culture, also changes and if as a result of this change people become more rational, logical, wiser, analytical and empirical in their political attitudes, to this we can call the secularisation of political culture.

10. Factors helpful in the growth of secular political culture. • Education • Radio and Television • Secular Press • Type of Political System • Secular State • Social and Economic equality • Scientific and Technical progress • Political Parties • Pressure Groups • Industrialisation and Urbanisation

11. Relevance of Political Culture in Politics • It has made political Science as a real Social Science. • The study of political science has become practical • Increase in the scope of political Science. • Measuring rod to judge the success and failure of political system. • Political science has become a dynamic Subject • Helpful in knowing the diversities in human nature. • Combination of micro and macro study. • Helpful to know the reason of political decay. • Helpful in bringing progressive political change. • Basis of making distinction among political system.

12. Criticism of the concept of political culture • Not a correct barometer to know the behaviour of man. • Ambiguous concept. • Difficult to draw a line between general culture and political culture. • It is not a new concept.

13. Conclusion The study of this concept helps us to understand the political beliefs and attitudes of the people living under various political systems. The concept of political system is an attempt to gain the rigour and comprehensiveness which these other concepts lack.

14. References • Aggarwal R.C., Principles of Political Science, S.Chand Company, New Delhi, 1976. • Badyal, J.S, Political Theory, Raj Publishers, 2012, Jalander. • Garner James Wildford, Political Science and Government, The World Press Priviate LTD. Calcutta, 1951. • Gauba O.P, An Introduction to Political Theory, Macmillan Publisher, Delhi, 2009. • Misra K.K & IyengarKalpana. M, Modern Political Theory, S.Chand Company, New Delhi, 1988. • Ray Amal, Political Theory Idess and Institutions, The World Press Priviate LTD. Calcutta, 1988 • Johari J.C, Principles of Modern Political Science, Sterling Publishers, New Delhi, 1989.

15. By • Dr. AMANDIP KAUR • DEPTT. OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, • PGGCG, SEC. 11, CHANDIGARH.