POLITICAL CULTURE AND DEMOCRACY
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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 The findings of the 1989 study by Almond and Verba of the political structure of democracy in five countries--the United States, Great Britain, Germany, Italy and Mexico--indicates that, where democratic governments have succeeded, they did so only after a long period of gestation and adaptation, "a gradual political development" (p. 368). A key factor in that development is the political culture of the nation which they say "refers to the specifically political orientation--attitudes toward the political system and its various parts, and attitudes toward the self in the system" (Almond & Verba, 1989, p. 12). In those areas of the world which have recently developed economically at a rapid rate
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survive (p. 193). Jung is confident of the prospects for democracy in East Asia. He (1994) cites the progress that has been made in Japan, India and elsewhere toward democracy, which he says is based in part on "Asia's rich heritage of democracy-oriented philosophies and traditions" (p. 191).
The truth appears to be somewhere in the middle between these formulations of the prospects for democracy in developing countries. Jung cites elements of Asian culture which have been supportive of democracy, such as the Chinese philosophical concept that the emperor's rule is limited by the mandate of heaven and long-standing traditions of autonomy in local government and civil service merit systems in China and Korea. However, he passes over too lightly the fact that most countries in East Asia have had centuries-old traditions of authoritarian rule. While Sang-Jin is correct that "nothing in human history is permanent" and that the political orientation of societies over time can change, Diamond et al. (1995) point out that "democratic success in developing countries can be traced not only to the growth of democratic values but also to their roots in a country's history and cultural traditions" (pp. 19-20).
Japan's recent history ill
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Some common words found in the essay are:
Almond Verba, Meiji Restoration, South Korea, United Diamond, East Asia, CULTURE DEMOCRACY, Kuan Western, Japan India, Conclusion Progress, Italy Mexico--indicates, almond verba, political democracy, almond verba 1989, developing countries, verba 1989, east asia, economic social, et al, political culture, diamond et, zakaria 1994, diamond et al, zakaria 1994 111, et al 1995, foreign affairs 73,
Approximate Word count = 1540
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)
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