Lesson Report:
### Title:
**Political Culture: Understanding Cultural Values, Public Perception, and Legitimacy**
**Synopsis:**
Today’s session focused on the concept of political culture, exploring how deeply ingrained cultural values and shifting public perceptions influence political analysis, governance structures, and political legitimacy. The discussion also highlighted the importance of grassroots and elitist perspectives in shaping a nation’s cultural and political framework. Through lecture and discussion, students examined real-life examples of cultural traditions, public perceptions, and the role they play within institutions and policy-making.
### Attendance:
– Absent Students: Rodion, Madina
– Present Students: Nilufar, Aghirim, Harib Sultan, Sindad, Idilia, Margarita, Dastan, Akpil, Khusna, Aydai, Aydana, Adia, Erasil, Nahida, Khalil
### Topics Covered:
**1. Introduction to Political Culture**
– **Why is Political Culture Important?**:
The foundation of the discussion was on political culture—why and how it matters to political scientists. Political culture is shaped by historical, social, and economic contexts and represents deeply ingrained beliefs about governance, justice, and identity within a society.
– **Difference Between Political Analysis and Opinion**:
Concepts of specificity, actionability, and meaning in conducting a political analysis were explained. Analysis goes beyond general opinions (e.g., “totalitarianism is bad”) to produce actionable and specific conclusions. Examples included evaluating Indian government regimes, which students worked on for previous homework.
**2. Review of Homework: Classifying India’s Political Regime**
– **Defining Analysis**:
A continued conversation on the importance of research and evidence in analysis and how students applied it in their homework regarding the classification of the Indian government as authoritarian, democratic, or transitional based on their research.
– **Homework Recap**:
Students were reminded of the significance of completing homework assignments. About 30 of 47 assignments were submitted.
**3. Ideology and Its Role in Political Analysis**
– **Definition of Ideology**:
Ideology was defined as a system of beliefs that explains what is wrong with the world, what needs to be changed, and how it should be changed. Ideologies help predict behaviors but also limit objectivity in political analysis.
– **Double-Edged Sword of Ideology**:
Ideologies both assist and constrain political scientists because they categorize beliefs but make it challenging to remain neutral.
**4. Cultural Values and Political Culture**
– **What Are Cultural Values?**
Cultural values are long-standing, deeply ingrained beliefs that are passed down, forming the backbone of national identity and political culture.
– Example in Kyrgyzstan: “Reverence for Traditionâ€� (e.g., toy—family gatherings, youngest sons living with parents, etc.).
– Other examples discussed included respect for hierarchy and language norms in Kyrgyz society.
– Social hierarchy in Kyrgyzstan: How cultural values affect language usage and social interactions both in private homes and public spaces (e.g., giving bus seats to elders).
**5. Public Perception**
– **Definition of Public Perception**:
Public perception was contrasted with cultural values. Unlike cultural values, public perception is more reactive and changes according to specific political events and media influence.
– **Example of Public Perception – Electric Scooters in Bishkek**:
An in-depth illustration was given using the changing public perception of electric scooters in Bishkek, initially seen as modern and progressive, now seen negatively due to media coverage of accidents and annoyance. Gradual shifts in policy due to public reaction and complaints were also discussed.
**6. Institutions and Legitimization Through Culture**
– **Cultural Values and Political Legitimacy**:
Governments use cultural values to establish legitimacy by connecting with what the people see as important and representing their identity.
– Example: The Kyrgyz government supporting the Nomad Games to appeal to the historical reverence for tradition and win the public’s support.
– Discussion of how political culture forms governance systems and the stability of regimes depending on their connection to cultural values.
**7. Elitist vs. Grassroots Debate**
– **Introduction to Two Perspectives**:
– *Elitist Perspective*: Cultural values and ideologies are shaped by powerful elites (politicians, celebrities, wealthy individuals).
– *Grassroots Perspective*: Culture originates from everyday people and influences elites and government actions.
– **Debate Activity**:
– Students split into two groups and discussed whether movements (e.g., Black Lives Matter) were grassroots or elitist in nature.
– This served as an introduction to understanding political mobilization and whether it stems from everyday society (grassroots) or powerful influencers (elitist).
### Actionable Items:
**For Next Class:**
– Review readings on *Institutions* and their link to political culture and governance for the upcoming session.
– There will be a group activity next week on institutional frameworks in different countries. Students who missed today’s class should review the material provided on e-course to catch up.
**Outstanding Reminders:**
– Homework assignments not yet submitted (from previous class) must be in by the end of the day to avoid penalties.
Homework Instructions:
NO HOMEWORK
Justification: There was no announcement of a new homework assignment during the class. The only homework referenced was the previous assignment involving classifying the regime of the Indian government, which students were reminded to complete if they had not already. This is indicated in the transcript: “If you did not do the homework assignment, please make sure that you do it because that is going to be important.” Additionally, the professor mentioned a reading assignment at the end of the class unrelated to any specific homework: “There’s going to be one reading. Please make sure that you do that,” but no further homework task was assigned.