Significance of Political Culture
Cover Sheet
CANDIDATE NAME: James Alexander Ayles
STUDENT NUMBER: 1014262
MODULE CODE: EU7100 (Autumn)
MODULE TITLE: Introduction to Academic Study in the UK
SEMINAR TUTOR: Dr. Stephen Thornton, Elizabeth Wren-Owens ESSAY TITLE / COURSEWORK ASSIGNMENT: Can Political culture be considered a cause or consequence of Democracy? Research Trail
WORD COUNT: 1,192, excluding Bibliography.
Can Political Culture be considered a cause or consequence of Democracy?
A ii)
In their widely used academic textbook Comparative Government and Politics (2008) Hague and Harrop present the notion of political culture as being “continually influenced by political and economic development.” This is supported with a study of the post-war divisions of West and West Germany. The first .chapter identifies how rapid post-war economic recovery in the west impacted positively on political culture, with over 50% of West Germans proud of their political institutions by 1988 (Hague & Harrop 2008). Therefore, the recovery of West Germany demonstrates how a democratic culture can emerge from authoritarian regimes.
In an authoritarian regime, the values of the Communist East had a clear impact upon trust between citizens and the government. Rainer and Siedler (2006) identify this as a long-term effect of living in a regime that “engaged in such extraordinarily close surveillance of the population.” Yet, post-integration, trust levels amongst former citizens of the east towards political institutions have increased dramatically, as democracy is established.
Therefore, Hague & Harrop (2008) identify political culture as a consequence, affected drastically by regime. The liberal democracy of West Germany under the Allies encouraged openness and the development of this supportive political culture in turn offered confidence to the political leaders. However, should such devastating economic and social developments as those seen in the East during the Cold
CANDIDATE NAME: James Alexander Ayles
STUDENT NUMBER: 1014262
MODULE CODE: EU7100 (Autumn)
MODULE TITLE: Introduction to Academic Study in the UK
SEMINAR TUTOR: Dr. Stephen Thornton, Elizabeth Wren-Owens ESSAY TITLE / COURSEWORK ASSIGNMENT: Can Political culture be considered a cause or consequence of Democracy? Research Trail
WORD COUNT: 1,192, excluding Bibliography.
Can Political Culture be considered a cause or consequence of Democracy?
A ii)
In their widely used academic textbook Comparative Government and Politics (2008) Hague and Harrop present the notion of political culture as being “continually influenced by political and economic development.” This is supported with a study of the post-war divisions of West and West Germany. The first .chapter identifies how rapid post-war economic recovery in the west impacted positively on political culture, with over 50% of West Germans proud of their political institutions by 1988 (Hague & Harrop 2008). Therefore, the recovery of West Germany demonstrates how a democratic culture can emerge from authoritarian regimes.
In an authoritarian regime, the values of the Communist East had a clear impact upon trust between citizens and the government. Rainer and Siedler (2006) identify this as a long-term effect of living in a regime that “engaged in such extraordinarily close surveillance of the population.” Yet, post-integration, trust levels amongst former citizens of the east towards political institutions have increased dramatically, as democracy is established.
Therefore, Hague & Harrop (2008) identify political culture as a consequence, affected drastically by regime. The liberal democracy of West Germany under the Allies encouraged openness and the development of this supportive political culture in turn offered confidence to the political leaders. However, should such devastating economic and social developments as those seen in the East during the Cold
Bibliography: E) Hague & Harrop, 2008, Comparative Government and Politics, 8th, Palgrave Macmillan Fisher, J. 2010, State political culture and support for Barack Obama in the 2008 Democratic Primaries, Social Science Journal , 47 (3), 699-709 Craig, J Rainer & Siedler, Rainer, Helmut and Siedler, Thomas (June 2006) ‘Does Democracy Foster Trust?’, ISER Working Paper 2006-31 Putnam et al, 2000.