Political culture and Socialization

Meaning of Culture and Political Culture

Culture is defined as the activities, thoughts, feelings and artifacts, which man acquires as a member of society. According to Alan R. Ball, political culture is composed of the attitudes, beliefs, emotions and values of society that relate to the political system and political issues. It can also be defined as the totality of the people’s way of life, beliefs, attitudes, values, norms etc. in relation to the way a given state is administered.

The Components of Political Culture

There are basically three elements or components of political culture in terms of attitudes of the citizens to governmental activities and processes.

1. Cognitive Orientation: This refers basically to the extent of awareness or level of enlightenment of the people about their state.
2. Evaluative Orientation: This is the ability of the people to make inferences from the actions of their leaders in terms of assessment of their performances.
3. Affective Orientation: This is relative to the people’s feelings towards the government of the state, the systems and structures.

The Concept of Political Socialization

Definition of Political Socialization

Political socialization can be defined as an introduction or initiation into the political systems. It is the process through which an individual learns relevant attitudinal dispositions and behavior patterns towards the structures, system and processes of government through the agents of society. This enables the individual to acquire beliefs, feelings and information which in turn helps him to comprehend, evaluate and relate effectively to the political environment around them.

The Agents of Political Socialization

Basically, the agents of socialization are those institutions which help at one stage or the other in the life of the people in transmitting the political values, political norms, political culture and political system from one generation to the other. These agents include the following:

1. The family:Here, the child begins to learn and form different impressions about the society. The child usually begins by observing and later learns the “dos” and “don’ts” of the society.
2. The school:The school helps to shape and sharpen those norms and values already impressed on the child by the family. For example, the child is learns about constituted authority in the school such as school prefects, etc.
3. The peer group: As a child grows, they are bound to meet various play groups whose members share common interest and aspirations. Ideologies are formed at this stage as they interact among themselves.
4. The mass media:The mass media help to socialize the child as political issues are always discussed on them.
5. Pressure groups:This is another agent of political socialization through which the child learns of the various political culture and tenets that help to build the nation.Political parties: This is another channel for the socialization of an individual or group through the stimulating political campaigns, manifestoes, etc., of political parties.

EVALUATION

1.(a) Define political culture.

(b) Briefly discuss the components of political culture.

2.(a) What is political socialization?

(b) List and explain five (5) agents of political socialization.