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1. Chapter Four Cultural Bases of Politics Learning outcomes. After going through this unit, you will be able to: Introduce culture bases of politics. Define political culture. Discuss the elements of political culture. Explain the concept of postmodernism. Mention the media and politics.

2. Introduction The concept of political culture was based on the observation on Gabriel Almond that ‘every political system is embedded in a particular pattern of orientation to political actions ’. The concept of political culture thus suggests that the traditions of a society , the spirit of its public institutions, the passions and the collective reasoning of its citizenry , and the style and operating codes of its leaders are not just random products of historical experience but fit together as a part of a meaningful whole and constitute an intelligible web of relations. . For the individual, the political culture provides controlling guidelines for effective political behaviour , and for collectivity.

3. Define Political Culture Political culture does not refer to the formal or informal structures of political interaction , i.e., the study of governments, political parties, pressure groups or cliques. Instead, it refers to the system of beliefs about patterns of political interaction and political institutions. It does not refer so much to what is happening in politics as much as what people believe is happening. Political culture therefore is an important link between political events and people’s reactions to those events. It studies the fundamental political beliefs of the people because these are particularly relevant to understanding social change as well as political stability.

4. Elements of Political Culture Political culture is a systematic study of political ideology, national ethos and spirit , national political psychology, and the fundamental values of the people. Political culture also studies non-political behaviour such as feelings of basic trust in human relations , orientations towards time and the possibility of progress . Political culture stems from explicit citizenship training and conscious learning about the workings of the political system, rational understanding and the articulation of concepts.

5. Cont , It includes an emotional dimension such as loyalty towards community and geography . The ‘political culture’ approach is relevant because it provides structure and meaning to the political sphere . It is the study of the total political system and includes micro and macro analysis . The study of political culture has had a long history before American political scientists began studying different areas of the world. Though it could be even traced back to the Ancient Greeks . The concept of political culture helps one to separate the cultural aspects of politics from other forms of culture.

6. Postmodernism Postmodernism as a movement is a little difficult to define. However, it does seem to encompass two basic facets of philosophy— first , all truth is relative and it is essentially , whatever you make of it and second , it is a strong focus on relationship, both to people and to the world and nature . Postmodernism is a tendency in contemporary culture, which is characterized by the problem of objective truth and inherent suspicion towards global cultural narrative . It emphasizes on the role of language, power relations, and motivations .

7. Cont , Postmodernist analysis of culture and society expanded the importance of critical theory and has been the point of departure for works of art, literature and design , as well as interpreting law, culture and society . Postmodernism rejects the modernist ideals of rationality, virility, artistic genius, and individualism, in favor of being anti-capitalist, contemptuous of traditional morality, and committed to radical egalitarianism .

8. Cont ,

9. Media and Politics Mass media influences our relationship with institutions. For example, our information about the government is based on news reports . Our understanding of politics is influenced by how media connects and represents politics. Today , instead of attending a live political event, we read or watch reports on the political event and also listen or read analysis or comments on the same . The government relies heavily on the media to popularize its plans , schemes and positive developments . Politicians depend on the media significantly, especially during election campaigns .

10. Cont , Mostly daily newspapers and television news channels were profiling the political contestants on an everyday basis. There are numerous examples of active public relation campaigns done by political parties where all media including print, radio, television, and internet were used both separately and in-combination to publicize their election manifestoes. The media has a tremendous effect on politics and the politicians. We tend to believe the media because research is done by them and they are a main source of information.

11. Questions and Comments