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DEMOCRACY & CULTURE.
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Overview of theories & examples of relationship between success of democracy & existing political, economic & social cultures of nations in West & East.... More...
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Paper Abstract:
Overview of theories & examples of relationship between success of democracy & existing political, economic & social cultures of nations in West & East.

Paper Introduction:
POLITICAL CULTURE AND DEMOCRACY This research paper analyzes the importance and nature of a nation's political culture, as a factor in determining whether political democracy can take root and develop into a viable, self-sustaining system of government. Political democracy has in recent decades spread from the West to the developing countries; however, democracy can survive only under the proper conditions. In the long run, any government which proves incapable of adapting its cultural institutions and values to broaden the political, economic and social basis for its rule may suffer adverse consequences. Nevertheless, very few nations have been able to make successfully the transition from authoritarian to democratically-based societies. Necessary Preconditions for Democracy

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The difficulty is that benevolent despotsare rare and often pass from the scene before their work is complete. 1994). 114). . D. At the same time, economic development "potentially tend[s] tostrengthen civil society, providing more favorable conditions fordemocracy" (Sang-Jin, 1995, pp. 37 ). In Lee Kuan's view, Westernconcepts of individual liberty tend as they mature to lead "to thebreakdown of civil society" (Zakaria, 1994, p. Political democracy has in recent decades spread from the Westto the developing countries; however, democracy can survive only under theproper conditions. Zakaria, F. Sang-Jin argues that, over the long run, capitalism and what hecalls "bureaucratic-authoritarianism" are incompatible with each other (p.9). The establishment of internationalnorms of political behavior may help speed up the democratization process.Basically what is involved is a gradual internal process of politicalaccommodation among conflicting segments of society under enlightenedleadership. stress the importance of enlightened politicalleadership during the transition from authoritarianism. Thestresses of economic and social modernization may even generate new elites,such as Islamic fundamentalists, who are hostile to democratic government. Jung is confident of theprospects for democracy in East Asia. 5, 9). Thiscivic or communitarian spirit flows horizontally and vertically upward andis not easily induced from above. It was guidedand largely controlled by a small aristocratic-bureaucratic-industrialelite. Jung (1994) says that "Asia has no practical alternatives todemocracy" (p. D. 193). 88). (Nov./Dec. This has led some observers, such as former primeminister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, to conclude that Western-styledemocracy is unsuitable in the East Asian region because of cultural andsocial conditions there. . 5). Diamond et al. 9). Democratic government has long endured invery few nations: Great Britain, the modern British Commonwealth,Scandinavia and the United States. Newbury Park:Sage. Necessary Preconditions for Democracy The findings of the 1989 study by Almond and Verba of the politicalstructure of democracy in five countries--the United States, Great Britain,Germany, Italy and Mexico--indicates that, where democratic governmentshave succeeded, they did so only after a long period of gestation andadaptation, "a gradual political development" (p. 19-2 ). Jungcites elements of Asian culture which have been supportive of democracy,such as the Chinese philosophical concept that the emperor's rule islimited by the mandate of heaven and long-standing traditions of autonomyin local government and civil service merit systems in China and Korea.However, he passes over too lightly the fact that most countries in EastAsia have had centuries-old traditions of authoritarian rule. Making democracy work: Civil traditions inmodern Italy. He believes that Asian nations are morelikely to succeed economically and provide for the material well-being oftheir people, if their underlying culture embraces traditional Asian valuesincluding "the belief in thrift, hard work, filial piety and loyalty to theextended family, and, most of all, respect for scholarship and learning"(Zakaria, 1994, p. Conclusion Progress toward democracy in the developing world is likely to beslow and uneven and may take new forms. Politics indeveloping countries. Economic development and democracy: Koreaas a new model? M. Although Japan modernized its economy and manyof its political and other institutions after the Meiji Restoration in1868, political democracy initially had a very narrow base. 368). The civic virtue. According to Lee Kuan, Western individualism is inconsistent withtraditional Eastern values which stress the primacy of the needs of socialgroups, starting with the family unit and extending to the entire society,over the desires of individuals. Putnam, R. Insome cases, the transition to democracy occurs only after they die, such asin the case of post-Franco Spain, where a smooth transition was achievedbecause the leader had the foresight to begin the democratization processbefore he died. While Sang-Jin is correct that "nothing in human history is permanent" and that thepolitical orientation of societies over time can change, Diamond et al.(1995) point out that "democratic success in developing countries can betraced not only to the growth of democratic values but also to their rootsin a country's history and cultural traditions" (pp. 372). Diamond, L., Linz, J. Is culture destiny? Until the 196 s, France had very great difficultiessustaining democracy because political leaders were divided over whetherrepublican or monarchical principles should prevail. Sang-Jin, H. In the long run, any government which proves incapableof adapting its cultural institutions and values to broaden the political,economic and social basis for its rule may suffer adverse consequences.Nevertheless, very few nations have been able to make successfully thetransition from authoritarian to democratically-based societies. Almond and Verba (1989) emphasize the importance of a historicalprocess which facilitates the emergence of "a civic society . Nor is there necessarily a close correlation between economic growthand political democracy. According to them,"Time and time again . . 193). we find the values, goals, skills, and styles ofpolitical leaders and elites making a difference in the fate of democracy"(Diamond et al., 1995, p. The truth appears to be somewhere in the middle between theseformulations of the prospects for democracy in developing countries. ForeignAffairs, 73, 1 9-127.----------------------- 9 12). 19). Japan's recent history illustrates the difficulties of implantingpolitical democracy in a traditional society with collectivist culturalvalues and social structure. (1995). Theystress the importance of "unifying symbolic events" to stimulate "a processby which individuals can come to develop a sense of common politicalidentity" (p. According to him, "in the East the main object isto have a well-ordered society so that everybody can have maximum enjoymentof his freedoms" (Zakaria, 1994, p. POLITICAL CULTURE AND DEMOCRACY This research paper analyzes the importance and nature of a nation'spolitical culture, as a factor in determining whether political democracycan take root and develop into a viable, self-sustaining system ofgovernment. Boulder: Lynne Rienner. 111). Toachieve political stability in a democratic system is very difficult andrequires widespread belief by broad segments of society, including itsleaders, in the legitimacy of democracy, a willingness to resolve conflictpeacefully and to compromise disputes, mutual trust and the potential, ifnot the reality, of active participation in politics by the masses. Japanese democracy is relatively healthy today, but itevolved to its present state only after Japan endured a devastating defeatin war, had the good fortune to enjoy the benefits of a fairly benignAmerican occupation and after it experienced more than 4 years of one-party rule. 111). Theyoften do not willingly or quickly yield power, an issue in modern Chinawhere a monolithic communist regime sponsors capitalism in the economywhile at the same time comprehensively repressing political dissent. thatcombines modernity and tradition" (p. By aggravating the extremes of wealth and poverty,economic stagnation or decline can generate class conflict and politicalpolarization, which occurred in Germany in the late 192 s and early 193 s.However, even in prosperous economies, elites can become entrenched. A conversation with Lee Kuan. J., & Lipset, S. . However, it must be accompanied by the developmentof other "channels of political socialization," such as the family, theworkplace and voluntary associations (Almond & Verba, 1989, p. Almond and Verba suggest that education of the citizenry indemocratic principles is an essential pre-condition for the establishmentof a lasting democracy. 372). A key factor inthat development is the political culture of the nation which they say"refers to the specifically political orientation--attitudes toward thepolitical system and its various parts, and attitudes toward the self inthe system" (Almond & Verba, 1989, p. Rapid economic growth stimulates among the better educated andproductive members of society, middle-class professionals and skilledworkers, strong demands for broader participation in political affairs andgovernment. Jung, K. He points out that the technological imperatives ofthe global economy spread knowledge rapidly and make it difficult forauthoritarian regimes to survive (p. (March/April 1994). (1993). References Almond, G. The Japanese political party system became faction-ridden andcorrupt. In their civic culture and openpolity, civic virtue prevails, a balance between common action andtoleration for the liberties of individuals, what Putnam (1993) terms "self-interest defined in the context of broader public needs" (p. In those areas of the world which have recently developedeconomically at a rapid rate such as the tiger economies of East Asia--mostnotably, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan, the regimes in power haveattempted in varying degrees to combine authoritarian government and free-market capitalism. 191). Foreign Affairs,73, 189-194. It ultimately was replaced in the 193 s by a militaristic anddictatorial regime. (1989). They also emphasize that "the development of stablepolitical commitment may hinge upon the ability of the political system,especially during its formative stages, to produce output that satisfiesthe expectation of the members of the system" (p. (Summer 1995). He (1994) cites the progress that hasbeen made in Japan, India and elsewhere toward democracy, which he says isbased in part on "Asia's rich heritage of democracy-oriented philosophiesand traditions" (p. A., & Verba, S. Korea Journal, 35, 5-17. Political systems in East Asia, as Sang-Jin (1995) says in referenceto South Korea, "confine democracy to procedural democracy at the politicallevel, falling short of economic and social democracy and participation"(p. Princeton: Princeton U P.

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