POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION

Allan R. Ball sees political socialization as the establishment and development of political
attitudes and beliefs about political system. It is the process that encourages loyalty to the
nation, fostering or promoting of particular values that forms the basic foundation of the
society. Almond etal (1963) describe political socialization as a learning process by which the
norms associated with the performance of political roles as well as fundamentals political
values and guiding standard of political behavior are learned. Ikelegbe (2005) defined
political socialization as a process by which the citizenry acquire political orientation about
the state, politics and state characteristics. The citizenry learn about the political culture, form
their political self or personality and their political behavior and perspective through long,
slow sometimes imperceptible developmental process of learning, experiences, interactions
and information exchange. Simply put, political socialization refers to the transmission of the
political culture of any political system from generation to generation.

IMPORTANCE OF POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION

Obakhedo (2016) highlighted the importance of political socialization as follows:

1. Political socialization helps in socio political preparation of citizen for political

participation
2. Political socialization helps promote socio political interaction
3. Political socialization helps in suppressing an redirecting anti-social tendencies from
younger generation
4. Political socialization helps in the promotion and maintenance of political stability
5. Political socialization helps moulding the political fabrics of a society.
6. political socialization helps in producing a high degree of conformity by the members
7. political socialization helps in the acquisition of political outlook and orientation
through political enculturation
8. political socialization helps in the transmission of ideas, value, norms, symbols and
beliefs from one generation to another (intergenerational transmission of political
values)
9. political socialization helps to create hegemonic order
10. political socialization assist in promotion of patriotism and nationalism

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AGENTS OF POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION

Family

The family is the smallest and minutest unit of politics and political analysis. The family has
the primary responsibility for nurturing individual and meeting basic needs such as food and
shelter during their formation years. A hierarchical power structure exists within many
families that stress parental authority and obedience to rules that parents established. The
strong emotional relationship that exist between family members may compel children to
adopt behavior and attitude that will please their parents or conversely to rebel against them
(obakhedo etal, 2016). Apparently the parent can begin the teaching of the children the values
of the society from day one. Thus, the family is seen as the first and most important agent of
socialization

School

The school as agent of socialization provides experiences and attitude such as obedience,
discipline, deference to authority and participative skills, which in part fashion the individual
political self. The school may also directly teach political orientation through civics and
related subjects. More so, school education increases political awareness, interest and
participation.

Mass Media

Mass media include the various forms of communication that reach a large audience without
any personal contact between the sender and receiver. They include Radio, Television,
Newspapers, magazines and recently social media. Mass media helps in educating the
citizenry through making available information about news worthy events which is relevant
to the development of public opinion on public issues (obakedo etal, 2016)

Peer Group

Walker etal (2000) emphasis that peers are group of people who are linked by common
interest, equal social status, similar age. The pressure to conform to the group can be a
powerful impact on young people’s political development especially if such group is politics
oriented. The groups can include, Student Union Government, Rotary Club, tribal unions and
other social clubs.

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Political Parties

Political parties is an organized body of people who participate in political activities with the
sole aim of getting political power and running the machinery of government (Obakhedo etal,
2016) therefore political party’s representatives continuously engage in enlightenment,
sensitization, encouragement and education of the public through the flow of information on
voters’ franchise, electioneering campaign, political rallies etc. thereby shaping their
understanding, perception and voting choice.

Other relevant agent of political socialization includes;

 Interest groups
 Religion and Religious institution
 Political events and experiences
 Group differences
 Political generations
 Work place
 Social class

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 POLITICAL PARTICIPATION

Political participation is the actual involvement of the citizenry to influence directly or

indirectly the ways, direction and methods of governance or more specific the output or
outcome of the political process Ikelegbe (2005). It refers to the voluntary activities by which
members of a political community share in leadership selection and policy formation.
Hungtinton (1976) opined that political participation is the activity by private citizen
designed to influence government decision-making. However scholars have argue that
political participation is not only voluntary. Ikelegbe (2005) asserts that political participation
can be forced or compelled as it was in several of the defunct communist and one party states,
or in states where voting is compulsory such as Australia.

Importance of political participation

1. political participation enables the input of the governed in governance

2. political participation allows citizens demand accountability from political leaders and
those in political authority
3. political participation furthers communication and linkages between rulers and the
ruled
4. Political participation increases political learning, knowledge and understanding as
well as sharpens interests, responsibility and effectiveness of the citizenry in a society.
5. Political participation can stimulate development in a society due to useful
contribution from the collective wisdom of the citizenry

TYPES OF POLITICAL PARTICIPATION

The two broad type of political participation are conventional and the unconventional or non
conventional political participation.

Conventional Political Participation

According to Munroe (2000) the conventional political participation refers to the

participation which takes place within the confines of the law or within the norms and
traditions of a particular country as generally accepted. It is the means allowed by the law for
citizenry to relate in the governance process. Ikelegbe (2005) observes that cobnventional
political participation involves legal, constitutional, permissible and acceptable modes of
participation in the state affairs. These participations includes the act of voting, attending
political meetings, campaign, rallies etc.

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Unconventional Political Participation

This participation tends to deviate from the societal, constitutional and regulatory provision
of the state. It is the participation that is not acceptable and permissible by the law that binds
both the ruler and the ruled. It operates outside the tradition or norms of the state. For
example protests, riots, strikes, boycott, arson, war, corruption, banditry, insurgency etc.

LEVEL OF POLITICAL PARTICIPATION

This can also be refers to as hierarchy of political participation. Obakhedo etal (2016)
discussed these levels as follows;

1. Gladiatorial Political Participation

This is the highest level f political participation pyramid which citizens can attain in a
society. The activities involve in the level includes holding public and party office,
Being a candidate for public office, soliciting for funds, attending a party caucus
meeting, making monetary contribution to fund political party, becoming an active
member of political cabinet etc. The participants in this level hardly have time for other
business due to its e active state.
2. Transitorial Political Participation
Participant at the level often engage activities that mostly facilitate ground for the
gladiatorial participants most likely with the hope of getting political appointment after
their candidate are successful (Obakhedo etal, 2016). The transitorial political
participation activities includes advocacy and campaigns, liaising with incumbent
power, contacting a public official or a political leader and making monetary
contribution etc
3. Spectatorial Political Participation
These are activities every citizen is expected to engage in as civil responsibility aside
political interest. It is majoritarian kind of political participation. The activities include
wearing of party’s bottoms, initiating a political discussion, canvassing for votes, voting
etc.

FORMS OF POLITICAL PARTICIPATION

1. Electoral Activity
2. Lobbying Activity
3. Organizational Activity

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 4. Contacting Activity
5. Violence Activity

Question

Attempt a brief discussion of level of political participation you know.

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 REFERENCES

Almond Gabriel A. and Verba Sidney (1963) the civic culture: political attitude and
Democracy in Five Nations. New Jersey, Princeton University Press.

Ball, Allan(1971) Modern Politics and Government. London Macmillan

Walker, Lawrence, J. Hennig, Karl H. and Kretteneaur, Tobias (2000) “Parents and Peer
context for childreen’s moral reasoning development.” Child Development71 no4
103348 August

Ikelegbe, A. (2005) Introduction to Politics. Benin City, Imprint Service

Obakhedo, N.O and Obakhedo M.E (2016) Political Behaviour: meanings, concepts,
determinants, Topics and Examples. Benin City. Art-Hill concepts.

Munroe, T. (1999) Renewing Democracy in the new Millennium: the Jamaica Experience in
Perspective. Kingston. The Press Universityof West Indies

Huntington. S.P and Dominguez J.I (1976) ‘political development’ in Fred Greenstein and
Nelson Polshy (eds) Handbook of political science Volume 3. Addison. Wesley.
Mansachussets.