DANZIGER CHAPTER TWO PART II Individual Political Beliefs

Types of Political Beliefs 1- Cognitive 2- Affective 3- Evaluative Cognitive orientations -They are determined by our own factual knowledge about politics. -They include what are considered as “political facts” by the individual. -Such facts might be correct or totally wrong.

This knowledge might include such facts as the names of political leaders, the policies supported by political parties, events in political history, the features of constitutions and so on. Switzerland is a member of the EU. British constitution is unwritten. Nigerian regions have special representation in the national assembly.

Japan is an industrialized state. American president is elected by people. Saudi Arabia is ruled by a monarch. Italy has usually been ruled by coalition governments.

2- Affective Orientation: It includes any feelings or emotions held by a person about a political phenomenon, for example: What do you feel when you see/hear that: a group of people demonstrate against your country? (angry) the political party you support in the elections is voted out of office? (desperate)

3- Evaluative Orientation: - It refers to the individual interpretation of facts through using knowledge and feelings about them. - Your opinion about a political issue, such as the state’s policy on privatization, can be grounded in many different kinds of cognitive and affective orientations that are combined into an evaluation.

Collecting information about political orientations Public opinion polls - We can collect useful information about what people think about a particular issue. - This information obtained through a public opinion poll is stronger than the information obtained through a discussion with a few friends.

Belief System Among Ordinary People There are important differences between the elite and the ordinary people in the nature and structure of their belief system. Elements of ordinary people belief system *Political issues have low importance in relation to other concerns in people’s life. Most people do not give political issues first priority.

*People tend to focus attention on concrete (real) issues rather than on abstract political concepts. (The salary you receive is more important than the type of ownership of the place you work at.) *Interest and knowledge are greater on short-term issue than on longer-term ones. *Fundamental beliefs are relatively stable But short-term political opinions may change.

*The individual can hold contradictory positions. (for example a person might support the right to form political parties but reject the right of communists to have their own party). *The content of beliefs is often incorrect. (Some people do not know who elects the president in their country)

Belief System Among Elites (Political elite: Those who have relatively high levels of interest and involvement in politics.) *Elite belief systems are based on high levels of abstraction, accuracy, complexity, stability, and breadth (comprehensiveness). *Despite the emphasis on consistency among beliefs, individuals in the elite can support core values that are in conflict.

The belief systems of the elite are important because elites: have a major role in politics and can influence the belief system of common people. Political Culture refers to common political orientations or beliefs that characterize a large group of individuals.

Survey research We can understand the nature of political culture by the use of survey research. This is a more systematic and scientifically acceptable method. - A carefully selected sample of the population is asked a series of questions to collect information about individual political beliefs and actions.

Gabriel Almond and Sidney Verba found out that there is a Civic Culture in liberal democracies which consists of three sub- cultures: a- Parochial political culture: People know almost nothing about political system. They are excluded/alienated from political system. b- Subject political culture: People are affected by political system but they can not affect political system.

c- Participant political culture -People affect and be affected by the political system. They participate in decision making. Most survey research on political culture help to improve our understanding of political orientations of citizens in democratic societies.

- Ron Inglehart points out that there is a difference in political culture between older adults and younger adults. - He uses two concepts to explain such differences: materialism (interest oriented beliefs) and post-materialism (value oriented beliefs). - Older adults emphasize materialist values for strong defense, order maintenance and economic growth;

- many young adults on the other hand stress “postmaterialist” values including - a more satisfying and safe environment, freedom of expression, and more personal power in social and political life.