Exploring the 3 Types of Political Culture: What They Mean for Democracy

Political culture plays a significant role in shaping a society’s ideology, belief system, and political values. As such, political culture influences a society’s understanding, interpretation, and reaction to political events and practices. Typically, there are three types of political cultures that have been identified and studied- participatory, parochial, and subject. The nature and characteristics of these political cultures have profound implications for democracy and governance.

Participatory Political Culture

The participatory political culture is characterized by the active involvement of the citizens in political processes and activities. In such a culture, citizens are highly informed, politically aware, and politically motivated. Participatory political cultures thrive in societies where citizens have access to information, a high level of education, and a strong sense of civic responsibility.

In a participatory political culture, citizens engage in political activity by voting, joining political parties, participating in rallies, attending town meetings, and actively contributing to public discussions and debates. This culture ensures that citizens have a direct say in the political decisions that affect their lives. Participatory political cultures tend to be more democratic and participatory and foster the development of strong civic institutions.

Parochial Political Culture

The parochial political culture is characterized by a low level of political awareness and lack of interest in political activities by the citizens. Such societies tend to have a low rate of civic participation, and citizens are less likely to be politically active. Parochial political cultures thrive in societies where citizens are poorly educated, have a low level of income, and are more concerned with survival than political participation.

In a parochial political culture, citizens are more concerned with their daily lives than with political or civic issues. Citizens tend to rely on strong leaders or religious institutions to provide solutions to their problems. Thus, parochial political cultures according to their critics are more susceptible to corruption, authoritarianism, and political capture.

Subject Political Culture

The subject political culture is characterized by some citizens who are politically aware and active, while others are not. This political culture is typical of societies that are transitioning from a parochial to a participatory political culture. In such societies, some citizens have access to education, information, and political opportunities, while others do not.

Therefore, in a subject political culture, citizens tend to be divided between the politically active section and the politically passive section, making the political system unstable and sometimes explosive. The passive citizens are likely to be disenchanted with the government and its policies, while the active citizens are likely to demand more political participation and representation. This creates unequal participation in democracy and often leads to political unrest.

Conclusion

In conclusion, political culture is an essential aspect of any society’s political system. The different types of political cultures shape the citizens’ attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs towards political activities and civic engagement. Participatory political cultures foster healthy civic participation and democracy, while parochial political cultures tend to undermine democratic processes and institutions. Subject political cultures create divisions and inequality in political participation, slowing the development of democracy. Policymakers must understand and address these political cultures to promote a healthy and inclusive democracy.

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