Political Culture and Political Characteristics of the American States: a Consideration of Some Old and New Questions

Abstract

D ANIEL ELAZAR has defined political culture as particular pattern of orientation to political action in which each political system is imbedded (1984: 109). Political cultures vary in beliefs and values concerning the appropriate goals of a political system, the roles of political parties in achieving those goals, and the activities of citizens, elites, and professional politicians in politics. Elazar has identified three basic political cultures in the Amercan states, emerging from different historical migration patterns. In the traditionalistic political culture, the goal of the political system is one of maintaining the existing order. There is low inter-party competion, and public policies and actions are determined primarily by an elite. In the individualistic political culture, the political arena is viewed as a marketplace for ideas and actions; political actions are determined by public demands. Party competition is strong and professional politicians are an active force. Finally, in the moralistic culture, the goal of the political system is to achieve the broadest good for the community with or without public pressure. Party competition is strong, but less controlled by professional politicians. The common citizen is viewed as the primary political actor (Elazar 1984: ch.5). Elazar's concept of political culture has proven useful in predicting numerous aspects of political behavior in the American states. Its grounding in history and political theory, along with its established association with certain political behaviors suggests its utility in the study of state and local politics. In a review of research concerning political culture, John Kincaid (1980) cited the need for further research concerning political culture and its impact on institutional structures, processes and policies. Research concerning political culture has been relatively successful in confirming hypothesized relationships between political cultures and individual political attitudes and behavior. According to Kincaid, these relationships are particularly strong when the focus is on the political attitudes and behavior of political leaders and activists as compared to those of the general public (ohnson 1976; Hanson 1980; Joslyn 1980; Welch and

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