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Political Science

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Oct 30, 2023

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Chenoy 1 Chenoy Ethan Professor Pullen Federal Government 2 May 2023 Analyzing Political Socialization Political socialization has a profound impact on the health and vitality of democracy by helping the political attitudes and beliefs of citizens. Individuals' political behaviors, engagement, and views into political issues and institutions are all influenced by the values, norms, and beliefs they develop through socialization processes. Therefore, in order to ensure the long-term viability and stability in democratic systems, it is crucial to understand how political socialization functions and how it can be modified by a variety of circumstances. The four people I interviewed for this project were my mom, dad, uncle, and step-dad. All respondents were between ages 45-55. They also all grew up during the late 80’s and 90’s during the Reagan, Bush, and Clinton years. All respondents said they voted immediately after 18. My mom was a democrat in the 90’s and the rest voted republican. Therefore they were all heavily involved politically at the time. Specific political issues were mainly listed as the economy and taxes as the most common answer. These were the main focus of all four answers to the political issue question. What shaped my parents views could mainly be described as economic hardship in their lives by forcing them to save and conserve money, therefore affecting their voting decisions. For my uncle, it was the navy that influenced him to realize his place politically as foreign policy was his main concern. In comparison, my political views are quite different from theirs. While I agree that the economy and taxes are important issues, I also strongly believe in the need for social justice, environmental protection, and equal rights for all. My views on these issues are heavily

Chenoy 2 influenced by my education, media consumption, and personal experiences. For example, I was educated in a diverse community that emphasized the importance of inclusion and equity. Additionally, I consume a lot of news and media that expose me to a variety of perspectives and viewpoints. During the interviews, I observed that while my parents, uncle, and stepdad were all politically engaged in their younger years, they are less so now. "The relationship between social, civic, and political participation in old age and educational issues emerged as well, as our data indicate that learning opportunities, or the lack thereof, can be barriers to participation in old age" (Martins 414.) It seems that as they have aged, they have become less engaged politically, which may be due to a lack of real/ non propaganda opportunities to continue learning and engaging with political issues. "Thus, for certain issues, adults may need to draw parallels between historical and contemporary problems in order for children to make such connections. This would require adults to address political issues directly and explicitly when talking with children; unfortunately, adults are often hesitant to do so" (Patterson 13). During the interviews, I noticed that my parents and uncle had difficulty explaining their political views in a way that was relatable to me, a younger person with different experiences. As a result, I think it's important for adults to make a conscious effort to explain political issues in a way that is relevant and relatable to younger people. Political Socialization can also be characterized by how loyal or patriotic a county may be towards its own causes, "The level of democracy can fluctuate dramatically from year to year due to regime changes" (Sumino 8). Regime changes can have a profound impact on the level of democracy in a society, which can, in turn, affect the political socialization process. For example,

Chenoy 3 if a new regime suppresses political discourse, it can make it difficult for individuals to develop strong political beliefs and attitudes. The Bandwagon effect describes how people tend to go along with popular trends or opinions without giving it much thought. In the case of the individuals I interviewed, it's possible that their political views were influenced by the political climate of the late 80s and 90s, as well as the prevailing ideologies among their peers. The mass media, which often presents biased or selective news coverage, may have also played a role in shaping their opinions. It's worth noting that their personal experiences, particularly the financial hardships they faced, also quite significant in shaping their political views. While the Bandwagon effect and media influence were likely factors in their political opinions, it's important to recognize that other individual factors and experiences also contributed to their perspectives, such as demographics or lifestyles. In conclusion, political socialization is a critical process that influences the political attitudes and behaviors of citizens. As demonstrated by the interviews, personal experiences, education, and media consumption can all shape political views and beliefs. However, it is important to recognize that political socialization is not static, and it can be impacted by changing political climates and regime changes. Additionally, it is important for adults to engage younger generations in political discourse and try to explain political issues in ways that are accessible and relatable. While the Bandwagon effect and media influence may play a role in shaping political opinions, individual experiences and circumstances must also be considered. Finally, realizing the complex nature of political socialization from interviews and research is crucial to ensuring the long-term stability and viability of democratic systems.

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Chenoy 4 Works Cited Martins, Teresa. Learning and the Experience of Social, Civic, and Political ... https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/07417136221080432. Patterson, Meagan M. “Children’s Literature as a Vehicle for Political Socialization: An Examination of Best-Selling Picture Books 2012–2017.” The Journal of Genetic Psychology , vol. 180, no. 4-5, 2019, pp. 231–250., https://doi.org/10.1080/00221325.2019.1635077. Sumino, Takanori. “My Country, Right or Wrong: Education, Accumulated Democratic Experience, and Political Socialization of Blind Patriotism.” Political Psychology , vol. 42, no. 6, 2021, pp. 923–940., https://doi.org/10.1111/pops.12723.