Political Socialisation: The Process of Transmitting Political Values and Behaviour, Exams of Mass Communication

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Political Socialisation

Gabriel A. Almond and G. B. Powell. Political socialisation the process

by which political cultures are maintained and changed. Through the

performance of this function individuals are inducted into the political

culture, their orientations towards political objects are formed.” Thus,

political socialisation is the process by which the ethos and behaviour of

a political system is communicated from one generation to another

generation. Therefore, political socialisation is a continuous unconscious

process.

Robert Sigel. "It is the gradual learning of the norms, attitudes and

behaviour acceptable to an on-going political system.”

Political Socialisation Irwin L. Child. “Political socialisation thus covers the whole process by which an individual born with behavioural potentialities of immense range, is led to develop actual behaviour which is confined with a much narrower range-the range of which is customary and acceptable for him according to the students of his groups.” Political socialisation is based upon the idea that unless the political norms and values get internal sanctions of the indivdual, the political system cannot be maintained. The most important characteristic of political socialisation is the fact that through it political values are communicated from generation to generation. This helps in maintaining the political system. Thus it is a comprehensive process.

DEVELOPMENT OF POLITICAL SOCIALISATION  Socialisation in Childhood. Like the human child, society is also a growing process. Through socialisation, the child gradually adopts adult behaviour. Political socialisation starts with the influence of the environment upon the child. It is in the family that the child learns attitudes towards the authority, obedience, opposition, cooperation and non-cooperation etc. Easton and Dennis posit four stages in the process of political socialization in the childhood. (i) Recognition of authority through particular individuals such as parents, policemen and the president of the country. (ü) Distinction between public and private authority. (ii) Recongition of impersonal political institutions like national legislature, judiciary and voting behaviour. (iv) Distinction between political institutions and persons engaged in the activities associated with those institutions so that idealised images of particular persons such as the President or the Congress-menare transferred from the Presidency and the Congress. Thus, political socialisation starts in child

DEVELOPMENT OF POLITICAL SOCIALISATION Socialisation in various direction. In fact, political socialization influences in various directions. Its process goes on in life everywhere the example of U.S.A., Almond and Sidney Verba point out the people owing to the practice of political democracy in the country subsequently demand the practice of democracy in school, shops and churches. Since the demand is often met, school children, workers and others acquire in articulation, debate and decision-making. These experiences in turn help them towards developing the skills with which to participate in political life and either to help bring about or to accept political change thus socialisation process contributes not only to a society's political stability but also to change and to the strain at ease with which change takes place

FUNCTIONS OF POLITICAL SOCIALISATION

 Maintaining political culture. This function is performed by

communicating political culture from one generation to another

generation Under stable conditions this is an important function. But

since the political field is generally disturbed, the political

socialisation does not always act for maintaining political culture.

 Modification of political culture. Therefore, an important function

of political socialisation is the modification of political culture. This

aspect is clear from its relationships to change.

 Creating political culture. With the establishment of newpolitical

system every society needs the creation of a new political cultureThis

function is performed by means of the process of political

socialisation.

FUNCTIONS OF POLITICAL SOCIALISATION  Foundation for present patterns of political system. In open societies there are sufficient opportunities for difference of opinion and opposition. On the other hand, the totalitarian states do not accept difference of opinion and opposition. They are continually propagating in their favour. On the other hand, in democratic societies it is not so difficult to maintain traditions. Therefore, political socialisation can be imposed strictly according to the rigidity of the social systems. On the other hand, the political socialisation will be as much changeable as social system. But in both the types of societies the function of political socialisation is to maintain the present patterns of political

CHIEF MEANS OF POLITICAL SOCIALISATION

 Family. According to Ball the family should be described as theCast window

to the outer world for the child, it is his first contact with the authority.

Robert Lane has admitted three means of circulation of political beliefs.

(1) It happens by the circulation of distinct and indistinct political principles.

(2) In it the child is placed in a particular social environment.

(3) It becomes possible by modification in the child's personality.

Thus most of the political personality of a person is determined in the

family, years before his actual participation in politics. The father

symbolises authority in the family and the child's attitudes towards him

determine his political behaviour towards authority in adult life. Large

scale researches in U.S.A. have confirmed that more than three-fourth

children of a generation follow political values of the parents though the

social and economic environments of the two generations may be widely

different.

CHIEF MEANS OF POLITICAL SOCIALISATION  Peer groups. After the family enters into play groups the friendship groups and lineage groups which are based upon primary relationships and known as peer groups. They also carry important influence upon political socialisation. Generally, the status of the individuals in upper group is equal, it has no hierarchy as it is found in family relationships. This equality is characteristic of equal age, equal functions and equal economic status. This does not mean that peer groups have no lead leaders do not enjoy authority, characteristic of the parents Just as in the socialisation of the of the child the maximum, similarly the adolescent is influence by the peer groups and friend circle. In this age he needs explanation of political changes and participates in them.

CHIEF MEANS OF POLITICAL SOCIALISATION  Education (i) Educationasl instituions. After coming out of the family and the peer group the individual comes in the contact of the educational institutions.The schools, the colleges and the universities carry important influence upon him. In fact, it is not an exaggeration to say that the influence of educational institutions upon political socialisation is more than that of the family. Hence in most of the countries, the government try to control the educational institutions. Attempt is made to control the universities by means of economic aid and other means. This helps the government to propagate political culture favourable to it. Educational institutions are the biggest means of propagating political ideas, values and patterns of behaviour in communist countries. Various types of educational institutions have moreor less influence upon political socialisation (ii) Curriculum. The curriculum directly socialises since it establishes respect and faith in national values, national history, national literature customs and traditions, political leaders and the political system. (iii) Teachers. The teachers also help in this process. The students taught to surrender before the authority in the name of discipline in school

CHIEF MEANS OF POLITICAL SOCIALISATION

Secondary groups. The influence of secondary groups is less in simple and

undeveloped societies and more in complex and developed nations. As the complexity and development increases in society so does increase the value of secondary groups. The main reason of this importance is the fact that relationships in the political field are similar in nature as these are found in secondary groups. Secondly, some secondary groups such as political parties or political youth wings are organised manifestly to achieve political aims, propagate political ideas and values and train political leaders which may be used for political activities. These groups are part of manifest socialisation. Then, there are some other secondary groups, which are not manifestly political such as labour unions, student unions or unions of workers. These groups aim at collective bargain in their particular field. But even these groups are led by the leaders following particular political ideologies. Some of them are even active members of a particular political party. Therefore, indirectly their aims are political. They impart political education to their followers and take part in active politics from time to time. However, some secondary groups can not be called political even though socialisation by them may be helpful in adjustment and success in the political field. Such are the self governing organisations found in different government aid.

CHIEF MEANS OF POLITICAL SOCIALISATION Mass communication media. The most modern comprehensive and influential means of political socialisation are the mass communication media such as radio, television, newspapers and magazines. Due to unprecedented technical growth of these media, their importance has considerably increased in recent times. It may be remembered here. that their influence very much depends upon the nature and level of society where they are being used. Secondly, the ideas and values communicated by them do not belong to the members but come from outside. Due to the government control upon the media in most of the states communication is in favour of the government, at least it is not against the government. Therefore, rather than calling it a means of political socialisation it should be called it instrument. Media do not directly influence the people. Opinions, ideas and values communicated by them influence the viewers and readers and thus circulate in a very wide field. Media itself do not establish any values or ideas but strengthen or weaken communicated values and ideas. Generally they support the status quo and therefore they cannot be called the fore runner of change. However, in the countries where various political parties develop freely and people are left free to use the means of communication, media becomes the fore runner of change

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