AP Comparative Government
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3.2 Political Culture
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The focus of this topic has several components:
- Political Culture—The collective attitudes, values, and beliefs of the citizenry and the norms of behavior in the political system. It sets expectations about the exercise of power to establish a balance between social order and individual liberty. (definition courtesy of the AP Comparative Government and Politics CED)
- Political Socialization—The lifelong process of acquiring one’s beliefs, values, and orientations toward the political system. (definition courtesy of the AP Comparative Government CED)
Political Culture
Political culture is the collection of political beliefs that the government is based on. So for example, in the United States, we value individualism, and our government reflects this with the Constitution and amendments. An example of this is the 10th amendment that states any powers not delegated to the United States belong to the States and/or the people. If a government does not reflect the basic political values of a people, it will have difficulty remaining viable and keeping legitimacy. (Unit 1 😱)
What influences political culture?
There are multiple factors including geography, religious traditions, and history that form the population’s values and beliefs, about the role of government, the rights of individuals, and the role of individuals in controlling government policymaking. Let’s explore some examples from our course countries.
Comparing Political Culture
| Country | Geography | Religion | History | Influence of government / individuals / policy-making |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | A variety of geographical features have impacted the UK's political culture. Examples include insularity (separation from mainland Europe), limited size and resources, and easy communication due to the lack of geographical barriers. These factors contributed to the UK's imperial power and centralized communication. | Prior to the parliamentary system, the monarchy was selected by divine right. | Noblesse oblige — the duty of the upper classes to care for the lower classes. Multi-nationalism: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland once separate, are now united. The UK evolved gradually from monarchy to parliamentary system through tradition and policy change, not revolution. | Geography influenced policymaking, e.g., Euroskepticism (UK kept the pound). History of noblesse oblige led to welfare policies like the NHS. Geography and history both shaped the UK’s imperialism. |
| Mexico | Numerous geographic influences: mountains and deserts separate regions. Mexico has rapidly urbanized — today about ¾ of all Mexicans live in cities. | Until the 1920s, the Catholic Church actively participated in politics. While political influence has declined, most citizens remain devout Catholics, which still shapes values and policies. | Patron-clientelism: elites provide resources in exchange for political support. A strong national identity is rooted in shared religion, language, and history. Economic dependency: formerly on Spain, now closely tied to the U.S. | Regionalism is shaped by geography — mountains and deserts separate regions. Religion influences policy (e.g., abortion laws vary by state due to Catholic values). PEMEX reflects the state’s control over the economy. |
| Nigeria | Patchwork geography includes plateaus, deserts, and diverse regions. Geography has created strong regional identities. | Religious tension between Islam and Christianity has strongly shaped political culture. | Patron-clientelism: seen in elite-constituent exchanges. Colonialism led to state control modeled on British rule. Military dictatorships further shaped this expectation. | Regionalism and religion affect laws (e.g., Sharia in the North). State control and dissatisfaction with democracy have caused citizens to support military coups as a corrective measure — a product of colonial legacy. |
| Russia | Largest country in the world with many climates and ethnicities. Geographical size and location make it vulnerable to invasion. | Eastern Orthodoxy was once closely tied to the state. The Soviet regime banned religious practice. | Communist regime emphasized equality and distrust of individualism. Cultural heterogeneity remains, but Russians often stereotype by nationality. Historical skepticism toward authority persists. | Religion previously merged with the state. Geography fostered a political culture valuing state protection over individualism. The Communist legacy has shaped Russia's focus on equality over capitalist growth. |
| China | Geography isolated China for centuries and limits population growth in the West. North-south divisions persist. | Confucianism promotes hierarchy, respect for elders, and authority — these values remain influential. | Patron-clientelism differs from Mexico — in China, loyalty within the Party (even to former leaders) is key. Nationalism is tied to Han Chinese identity. Eras like the dynasties and Maoism shaped political values. | Geography enables economic independence. History affects minority rights (e.g., Tibet). Maoist collectivism still influences values — the group is prioritized over individuals. |
| Iran | Vast deserts and mountainous terrain have concentrated the population in the northwest. | Religion and politics are fully integrated. Iran is a Shiite theocracy, and 90% of the population is Shiite Muslim. | Authoritarian history under the Shahs and the Supreme Leader. Iran was never colonized by Europeans. Strong nationalism and pride in Iranian identity persist. | Religion is central to political culture. The regime’s authority must align with Sharia. Citizens often feel disconnected from high leaders, instead relying on local officials for political impact. |
Political Socialization 👩👧
Political Socialization is the lifelong process of acquiring one’s beliefs, values, and orientations toward the political system. In other words, political socialization is the way that political culture is transmitted. (A question about this vocab word is asked on almost every single MCQ so lock in)
Each individual has a unique experience that defines how they view politics and how they act in their political life. Here are some of the defining factors for an individual's political socialization:
- Education/School 📕 - Educational Institutions play a great role in educating citizens about the political system, especially if they include classes on Government.
- Family 👪 - Family members also possess a strong influence on an individual's perception of the political system. A family's endorsement of a certain political ideology, or the lack thereof, can shape the way someone interacts with the political system.
- Religion 🙏 - Religion also shapes the way people view the political system, either positively or negatively. Religious groups preach different sets of beliefs/ideologies and provide individuals with a perspective of politics that revolves around their own faith.
- Media 📺 - The media, including social media, radio, and tv, plays a crucial role in political socialization by selecting issues and transmitting them in a certain manner. The media can also be controlled by the government to shape people's views of the ruling party and the political institutions positively.
How Does Political Socialization differ in Democratic vs. Authoritarian Regimes?
Authoritarian regimes tend to apply more concerted governmental pressures to socialize their citizens around conforming beliefs than do democratic regimes. What this means is that the authoritarian regimes directly use their agents of political socialization to inform political culture. Let’s provide 2 examples:
- President Xi of China stated “Children should memorize the core socialist values by heart, have them melt in their hearts, and carve them in their brains.”
- Iran and the idea of [vilayet-e-faqih], which is shared through political socialization, justify the rule of clergy over the state.
Opposite of Authoritarian Regimes, the more Democratic Regimes often use less pressure to socialize their citizens, if any. Democratic regimes have more freedoms for their citizens, generally, than Authoritarian ones. Remember that Authoritarian regimes have more work to do to keep people's endorsement of the ruling party, and that is why they attempt to have more influence over the media, education curriculums, among other elements of daily life.
Freedom of Religion in The UK: There used to be a pressure to join the Church of England from the Crown, however, Freedom of Religions means that people can practice Catholicism, Islam, Judaism, or any other religion (or none at all). This allows for less conforming pressures from the government towards the citizens.
Key Terms to Review (36)
10th Amendment: The 10th Amendment is a part of the United States Constitution that reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states or to the people.
Authoritarianism: Authoritarianism refers to a form of government where power is concentrated in the hands of a single leader or small group, who exercise strict control over political institutions and limit individual freedoms. It often lacks checks and balances, leading to limited political participation and suppression of dissent.
BREXIT: BREXIT refers to Britain's exit from the European Union (EU) after voting in favor of leaving in a 2016 referendum. It involves disentangling political, economic, and legal ties with EU institutions.
Collectivism: Collectivism refers to a political ideology or system that prioritizes the needs and goals of the community or society over individual rights and freedoms. It emphasizes cooperation, shared responsibility, and common ownership.
Confucianism: Confucianism is an ethical and philosophical system developed by Confucius in ancient China. It emphasizes moral values such as filial piety (respect for parents), loyalty to authority figures, righteousness, benevolence, and proper conduct in interpersonal relationships.
Communist Party: The Communist Party refers to a political party that advocates for the establishment of a communist society, where the means of production are owned and controlled by the community as a whole.
Constitution: A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed.
Cultural Heterogeneity: Cultural heterogeneity refers to the presence of diverse cultural groups within a society, each with its own distinct beliefs, values, traditions, and practices.
Divine Right: The belief that a ruler's authority comes directly from a higher power, such as God, and cannot be questioned by the people.
Dynasties: Dynasties refer to a series of rulers from the same family who rule over a country for an extended period of time. They often bring stability and continuity to a nation's governance.
Eastern Orthodoxy: Eastern Orthodoxy refers to one branch within Christianity that originated in Eastern Europe and has its own distinct traditions, beliefs, and practices separate from Roman Catholicism. It includes churches such as Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, and Serbian Orthodox.
Economic Dependency: Economic dependency refers to a situation where one country relies heavily on another country for economic resources, trade, investment, or aid.
Education/School 📕: Education refers to the process of acquiring knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes through teaching, training, or research. Schools are educational institutions where students receive formal instruction in various subjects.
Evolution over Revolution: The concept of "evolution over revolution" refers to the idea that gradual and peaceful changes are preferred over sudden and violent upheavals in a political system.
Family: Family members also possess a strong influence on an individual's perception of the political system. A family's endorsement of a certain political ideology, or the lack thereof, can shape the way someone interacts with the political system.
Geography: Geography is the study of physical features, climate patterns, human populations, and how they all interact with each other on Earth's surface.
Han Chinese: Han Chinese refers to the ethnic majority in China, making up over 90% of its population. They have their own distinct culture, language, and traditions.
History: History refers to the study of past events, particularly human activities, societies, and civilizations.
Legitimacy: Legitimacy refers to the acceptance and recognition of a government or political system by its citizens as having the right to rule and exercise authority.
Maoism: Maoism is a political ideology based on the teachings and beliefs of Chinese leader Mao Zedong. It emphasizes revolutionary struggle, class struggle, and egalitarianism.
Media: The media, including social media, radio, and TV plays a crucial role in political socialization by selecting issues and transmitting them in a certain manner. The media can also be controlled by the government to shape people's views of the ruling party and the political institutions positively.
Military Coup d'état: A military coup d'état is the sudden overthrow of a government by members of the armed forces. It usually involves the use of force or threat of force to seize power from existing political leaders.
Multi-nationalism: The presence and influence of multiple nations within one country due to factors such as ethnic diversity or colonial history.
National Health Services (NHS): The National Health Services (NHS) is a publicly funded healthcare system in the United Kingdom that provides medical services free at point-of-use for all residents.
Noblesse Oblige: Noblesse Oblige refers to the moral obligation of those who are privileged or in positions of power to act with generosity and responsibility towards those who are less fortunate.
Parliamentary System: A parliamentary system is a form of government where executive power is vested in an elected legislature (parliament) which chooses a prime minister or head of government.
Patron-clientelism: Patron-clientelism refers to a political system where powerful individuals or groups provide benefits and resources to less powerful individuals or groups in exchange for loyalty, support, and political favors.
PEMEX: PEMEX refers to Petróleos Mexicanos, which is the state-owned oil company in Mexico. It is one of the largest oil companies in the world and plays a crucial role in Mexico's economy.
Political Culture: Political culture refers to the attitudes, beliefs, values, norms, and expectations that shape citizens' behavior towards politics within a particular country or society.
Political Socialization: Political socialization is the process by which individuals acquire their political attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors through interactions with family, peers, education systems, media, and other socializing agents.
Religion: Religion also shapes the way people view the political system, either positively or negatively. Religious groups preach different sets of beliefs/ideologies and provide individuals with a perspective of politics that revolves around their own faith.
Religious Traditions: Religious traditions refer to the beliefs, rituals, and practices that are followed by a particular religious group or community.
Sharia Law: Sharia law is an Islamic legal system derived from religious texts such as the Quran and Hadiths. It governs various aspects of personal conduct, family matters, criminal justice, and economic transactions according to Islamic principles.
Shiism: Shiism is one of the two main branches of Islam (the other being Sunni). It represents those who believe that Ali ibn Abi Talib was Muhammad's rightful successor as the leader of the Muslim community.
Theocracy: A theocracy is a form of government where religious leaders hold both political power and authority. Laws are based on religious principles, and religious texts often serve as the foundation for governance.
Vilayet-e-faqih: Vilayet-e-faqih is an Islamic concept that translates to 'guardianship of the jurist.' It refers to Iran's system where ultimate political authority rests with a religious figure (Supreme Leader) who interprets Islamic law and oversees governmental decisions.