Jan 29 2007
Political culture revisited
Before talking to Joel:
1. The Huntington model:
Mobilization, participation and institution.
Political culture: the way to participate in polity, to associate with others in polity and the basis to institutionalize polity.
Application:
a. Political culture: culture of participation at the highest polity level (e.g. national, EU)
b. Civic culture: participation culture in civil society.
c. Culture: not clear in this model.
Why civic culture matters:
a. The template of political participation
b. Civic culture could be different from political one: e.g. Indonesia multi-sourced law system, Saudi Arabia today, etc.
2. The anthrop model:
Culture includes: collection of symbols (including words) and their interpretations.
Political culture: symbols used for political affairs and their interpretations. The implementation of such interpretations is the basis of political institution.
Application:
a. The power of interpretation: its disciplinary effect in politics. Its close association with institutions and power.
b. Weak state and strong society: why state is conceptually within society: the source of meaning comes from society. Politics may impose new symbols and implant its interpretation. To take root, however, such symbols and interpretations have to be assimilated by the society.