APComp: Unit 3, Political Culture and Participation - Political Culture, Definition, Civic Culture, Cleavages, Postmaterialism

What This Means

Political culture refers to the shared values, attitudes, and norms that shape a country's politics and governance. It's essential to understand political culture because it influences how citizens participate in politics, how governments make decisions, and how countries respond to challenges. For example, in the UK, the strong tradition of civic engagement and respect for institutions has contributed to the country's stable democracy.

Key Terms & Concepts

• Civic Culture: A culture that values civic engagement, trust in institutions, and respect for the rule of law. Example: The UK's high civic culture is reflected in its high voter turnout and strong tradition of peaceful protests.
• Cleavages: Deep divisions within a society that can lead to conflict and shape politics. Example: In Nigeria, ethnic and religious cleavages have contributed to ongoing conflicts and challenges to governance.
• Postmaterialism: A shift in values from material security and economic growth to postmaterial values like environmental protection, social justice, and individual freedom. Example: In Mexico, the 1968 student protests marked a turning point towards postmaterialism, as students demanded greater freedom and social justice.
• Authoritarianism: A system of government that concentrates power in the hands of a few individuals or groups, often suppressing dissent and opposition. Example: In Russia, Vladimir Putin's authoritarian regime has limited civil liberties and opposition.
• Legitimacy: The acceptance of a government's authority and right to rule. Example: In Iran, the Islamic Republic's legitimacy is based on its interpretation of Islamic law and the role of the Supreme Leader.
• Social Capital: The networks, norms, and trust that facilitate cooperation and collective action. Example: In China, the government has invested in social capital by promoting community development and social welfare programs.
• Value Change: A shift in societal values that can influence politics and governance. Example: In the UK, the increasing value placed on environmental protection has led to greater government action on climate change.
• Cultural Capital: The cultural resources and knowledge that individuals and groups possess, which can influence their political participation and engagement. Example: In Nigeria, cultural capital has played a role in shaping the country's diverse and vibrant civil society.
• Institutional Trust: The trust that citizens place in institutions like government, the media, and the judiciary. Example: In Mexico, institutional trust has been eroded by corruption and scandals, leading to widespread disillusionment with politics.
• Social Movements: Collective actions and protests that seek to bring about social change. Example: In Iran, the 2009 Green Movement was a social movement that challenged the government's legitimacy and called for greater freedom and democracy.

How This Works in Practice

• In the UK, a strong civic culture has contributed to high voter turnout and peaceful protests, which has helped to maintain the country's stable democracy.
• In Nigeria, the government's response to ethnic and religious cleavages has been to create a system of quotas and affirmative action, which has helped to address some of the underlying issues.
• In China, the government's investment in social capital has helped to promote community development and social welfare programs, which has contributed to greater social stability.
• In Russia, the government's authoritarianism has limited civil liberties and opposition, which has contributed to widespread disillusionment with politics.
• In Iran, the government's legitimacy is based on its interpretation of Islamic law and the role of the Supreme Leader, which has contributed to ongoing tensions with the West.

Common Misunderstandings

• Misunderstanding: Civic culture is the same as postmaterialism.
• Correction: Civic culture values civic engagement and respect for institutions, while postmaterialism values environmental protection, social justice, and individual freedom. Example: In the UK, civic culture is reflected in high voter turnout, while postmaterialism is reflected in the growing demand for environmental protection.
• Misunderstanding: Authoritarianism is the same as totalitarianism.
• Correction: Authoritarianism concentrates power in the hands of a few individuals or groups, while totalitarianism seeks to control all aspects of society. Example: In Russia, Vladimir Putin's authoritarian regime has limited civil liberties, but it does not seek to control all aspects of society.
• Misunderstanding: Social capital is the same as social welfare programs.
• Correction: Social capital refers to the networks, norms, and trust that facilitate cooperation and collective action, while social welfare programs are government initiatives to provide support to citizens. Example: In China, social capital has been promoted through community development programs, while social welfare programs have been implemented to provide support to low-income citizens.

Quick Comparison Table

Last-Minute Exam Cram

• A civic culture values civic engagement and respect for institutions.
• The UK has a strong civic culture, reflected in high voter turnout and peaceful protests.
• Cleavages are deep divisions within a society that can lead to conflict and shape politics.
• Postmaterialism values environmental protection, social justice, and individual freedom.
• Authoritarianism concentrates power in the hands of a few individuals or groups, often suppressing dissent and opposition.
• Legitimacy is the acceptance of a government's authority and right to rule.
• Social capital refers to the networks, norms, and trust that facilitate cooperation and collective action.
• Value change is a shift in societal values that can influence politics and governance.
• Cultural capital refers to the cultural resources and knowledge that individuals and groups possess, which can influence their political participation and engagement.
• Institutional trust is the trust that citizens place in institutions like government, the media, and the judiciary.
• Social movements are collective actions and protests that seek to bring about social change.
• A government's legitimacy is not the same as its popularity.
• Authoritarianism is not the same as totalitarianism.
• Social capital is not the same as social welfare programs.