POSC 1000 Introduction to Politics

1. POSC 1000 Introduction to Politics Russell Alan Williams

2. PART TWO: POLITICAL PARTICIPATION & BEHAVIOR Unit Eight: Political Socialization and Culture (March 18 and 20) • Required Reading: MacLean and Wood, Chapter 8. • Outline: • Introduction – Political Culture • Political Socialization and Participation • Changing Values? • The Role of the Media • Changing Technology

4. 1) Introduction: “Political Culture”: Widely held set of attitudes, beliefs and values that underpin any political system. • Specific to each social setting • Assumed to impact politics & public policy • Different than political ideologies . . . • E.g. Conservatives and Liberals may have different views about specific public policies, but in a specific social setting they may share a broader political culture • E.g. In the United States, they share: • Support of the Rule of Law • Commitment to pluralistic participatory democracy

5. What kinds of political cultureare there? • Almond and Verba – The Civic Culture (1963) • Parochial - Politics is distant and abstract for citizens – people act in a disinterested way • Subject - People are aware of political events but they believe they have little control over outcomes • Participant – Citizens are aware of political events and believe they should have an active role in choosing public policies • Different states have different mixes of these values – E.g. The United States is more “participant” then Canada • Yet, demographically the two countries are so similar, so why different political cultures? • Ideas are controversial – there are many alternative systems of classification

6. Core aspects of political culture a) Democratic values: • E.g. Anglo-American world expects high level of participation b) Views of governments and politicians: • E.g. Anglo-American countries more negative • Attitudes towards incumbent governments c) Political interest and knowledge • E.g. Can vary from one community to another

7. 2)Political Socialization & Participation: “Socialization”: Process whereby individuals act in a social manner; creation of social and political authority and rules to regulate behavior and thus permit operation of social units Or: Process by which values, political ideologies and political cultureare transmitted to citizens. • May explain why political cultures are different • Mechanisms: • Parties and political system • Education system • Governments

8. Mechanisms: • Families? Considerable debate about families . . . • The Catholic voter hypothesis  • More impact on Political Culture than Political Ideologies • E.g. “Political Efficacy”: Belief individuals have on whether they can effect what governments do • Media !!!!!

9. Socialization . . . Example – the “Turnout Crisis” • Voter turnout lower AND declining in Canada • Canadian Federal elections (1945-2000): • Turnout very low as a % of population in Canada

10. Socialization . . . Example – the “Turnout Crisis” • Most noticeable amongst young voters • Perceived importance of voting by age cohorts • Producing a lost generation of voters . . . ? Question: Why don’t young people vote?

11. Explanations: • Wisdom – young voters see “strategic realities” • E.g. Political Efficacy • E.g. Electoral system problems • E.g. Relates to possible “Generational Effect”: Effect that a different generation can have on its members attitudes – will persist over time – people are socialized by “peers” E.g. Current youth still participate, just less likely to vote . . . • “Life Cycle Effect” : Age effects one’s attitudes and behavior • E.g. People become more conservative as they get older • This is not new - young people never tend to vote!

12. Explanations: • Socialization – Youth are not “trained” to vote • Role of media? • Decline of political parties? • Decline of civic culture? E.g. “Bowling Alone” hypothesis (Putnam) • Many suggest our political culture is changing – socialization is not same on participation

13. 3) Changing Values: Political cultures and ideologies change over time . . . Materialism  Post-materialism • Ideologies were traditionally “materialist”: focused on economic benefits for different groups • Postmaterialist Theory: Political values changing because younger generations grew up in era of prosperity since WWII • Less concerned about economic security • More highly educated

14. Increases support for Postmaterialist Values: • Human rights, civil liberties etc • Environment • Evidence? • Question:Does this explain the “turnout crisis”? • E.g. Party politics and platforms not responding to postmaterialist values that well????

15. 4) The Role of the Media The Media or “Fourth Estate”: Traditionally, organizations not directly involved in politics but responsible for informing the public 1) “Libertarian Perspective”: Media should be free from government regulation 2) “Social Responsibility Perspective”: Media has a responsibility to the public’s “common good” • Free media = bad information =Need for regulation and “public broadcasters” • E.g. CBC

16. Perspectives on the media: 3) “Dominant Ideology Perspective”: Media promotes values of the powerful who benefit from status quo • E.g. Noam Chomsky • Media in liberal democracy is “propaganda” =Need for wider interpretations

17. E.g. Ownership concentration - E.g. “Rogers Communications” • Traditional Media: • 3 National TV Networks (CHUM, Sportsnet and TSC) • 62 Magazines (5 of the 10 top selling) • E.g. MacLean's • 35 Cable TV services • 29 Radio stations • 8 of Canada’s largest Daily newspapers • New Media: • Simpatico • Rogers AT&T Wireless • 240+ Video stores in Canada Risk: Most information provided by few sources

18. E.g. Ideological bias • Partisan political bias . . . The “Editorial Line”: the idea that some media outlets have persistent biases • Propaganda and state control • The “news” we don’t hear . . . . • Examples? - Stories on Media concentration! E.g. “Conflicts of Interest” • Do media outlets protect their advertisers?

19. 6) Changing Technology & the Media: How has the internet/social media/digital communication changed this? Two views: • It promotes a more libertarian view of media impacts on politics = more “voices” in politics (libertarian perspective) • Changes little • Internet even more irresponsible (Social Responsibility Perspective) • Internet just a different medium for same mass media companies (Dominant Ideology Perspective)

20. 7) For next time: Unit Nine: International Politics and Foreign Policy (March 25 and 27) • Required Reading: MacLean and Wood, Chapters 11 and 12.