Political culture, civil society, citizen participation, social cleavages, protest, and the role of media in the six AP Comparative Government countries.
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- What is political culture?
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The attitudes, beliefs, and values citizens hold toward their political system; shaped by history, tradition, and institutions.- What is civil society?
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Networks of voluntary associations and organizations, including unions, charities, and NGOs, operating independent of state and market.- What is a social cleavage?
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A division in society based on demographics (class, religion, ethnicity) or ideology that affects voting and political behavior.- UK political culture: participatory tradition
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Long history of democratic institutions; citizens view themselves as legitimate participants; high historical voter turnout (60-70%).- UK civil society organizations: membership change
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Trade unions, charities, and NGOs remain active; union membership fell from 50% (1970s) to 20% (2020s).- UK regional cleavages: examples
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Scotland and Northern Ireland independence movements; economic divide between London and regions; working-class shift from Labour in northern areas.- UK protest tradition: legal status
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Protected by Magna Carta and Bill of Rights; strikes, marches, and demonstrations regular and largely peaceful; civil disobedience widely practiced.- Russian political culture: post-Soviet characteristics
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Distrust of democratic institutions after Soviet collapse; preference for centralized authority and strong leadership; skepticism of formal democracy.- Russian NGO restrictions: Foreign Agent law
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NGOs must register as foreign agents if they receive foreign funding; state maintains control of major civil society organizations; registration requirements limit independent organizing.- Russian voter participation: official vs real rates
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Official statistics report 60-65% turnout; independent analysts question actual participation; voting is compulsory in some regions; fraud allegations common.- Russian ethnic composition: cleavage implications
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Russian-speaking majority comprises 80% of population; non-Russian minorities concentrated in federal republics; ethnic nationalism versus centralism creates political tensions.- Russian protest: state response
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Political demonstrations often prevented by police; large gatherings dispersed; state organizes counter-demonstrations; restrictive permit requirements limit rights.- Chinese political culture: CCP-mobilization model
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Communist Party directs civic engagement through state structures; limited independent political participation; state-mobilized campaigns control public activity.- Chinese civil society: GONGO structure
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Government-organized NGOs (GONGOs) dominate civil society; independent associations heavily controlled by state; autonomous organizing severely limited.- Chinese political participation channels: formal opportunities
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No national elections; limited formal opportunities outside Communist Party structures; township elections offer only participatory avenue for ordinary citizens.
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