Looking At The Political Culture Of Indonesian Society, Definition And Type: Mixed Political Culture

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JAKARTA - Every country cannot be released from the political system. Politics is inherent in people's lives. Because the color of the country has an attitude to judge and choose the rules of course related to the life of the nation and state.

Political attitudes in society then formed a habit called political culture. Political culture is a long result of the learning, understanding, and political analysis conducted by the community in a certain period of time.

People in a country have their own political tendencies that are different from other countries. The political culture in Germany will be different from America, French politics will be different from Japan, and so on.

So what is the political culture of Indonesian society as a country that embraces the democratic system? Here's the definition and culture of politics in Indonesia according to some experts.

Definition of political culture

Quoting from a book by Michael G. Roskin and friends titled Introduction to Political Science (2016), Sidney Verba, an American political scientist, says political culture is an empirical belief system, exresgressive symbols, and values that reinforce a situation when political action is taken.

The creation of a political culture comes from the values of knowledge, customs, and norms held by society collectively. These elements are also the cornerstone of the rules of life of a country's people.

The realm of political culture itself focuses on non-physical behavioral activities. These activities include attitudes, views, values, and beliefs. Therefore, political culture is psychological work that has an important influence on the existence of the political system.

Political culture and the political system are two things that go hand in hand. The political system of a country exists because of the political culture of its citizens. In the political system contains various components, such as the function of the political system, political structure, to the combination of functions and structures.

A country's political culture can be seen from the mass behavior of its citizens, which is related to politics. So it can be translated political culture is the attitude and actions of society in responding to the structure and political activities contained in a country.

Types of political culture

Ikhsan Darmawan's book entitled Knowing Political Science (2015) explains there are 3 types of political culture, among them:

1. Parochial political culture

This political culture has a limited coverage area, only in a small scope within the regional zone. Parochial political culture shows data on enthusiasm or community involvement in politics is very low.

The cause is due to cognitive factors or low levels of education. This political culture is usually found in traditional community groups or in remote areas.

Parochial political culture also shows the reluctance or lack of public interest in political contestation.

2. Political culture of the subject

This political culture is a condition of a society that is less concerned and does not have a great awareness of the current political system. In the subject's political culture, the public is more interested in the outcome of political organizing.

Meanwhile, in terms of the political process, such participation and involvement are low. In this political culture the role of society to change or influence the political system is very small.

This type shows that the community is only waiting for the policies of the rulers or policyholders.

3. Partisan political culture

This political culture is a condition of a society that is aware and gives great participation to the political connotations in its country. In the political culture of participants, the community is aware of the rights and obligations as citizens.

People with this type of culture can contribute actively and have the power to influence political policy. So political decisions cannot be set unilaterally by the ruler.

But the community has a part in its determination. The political culture of participants is generally found in countries that adhere to a democratic system.

The reason is because in a democratic system, people and governments have equal rights and freedoms in a country.

4. Political culture of Indonesian society

That's a quick explanation of political culture and its types. Each country has a different political culture, which also affects different political systems.

In the opinion of experts, the political culture of Indonesian society is mixed political culture. On the one hand, the community has a parochial political culture. While on the one hand also the society holds a political culture of the type of participants.

The parochial political culture can be seen from the lack of public participation in political activities. These cases are generally easy to find in communities living in villages, coastal, or mountain hinterland.

Actually, in addition to the low level of education, the lack of enthusiasm of peacocks is also caused by economic and geographical factors or infrastructures. While the political culture of participants can be seen with the massive indonesian society that opens the voice in every political activity.

Moreover, Indonesia adheres to a democratic system, which gives every citizen a chance to argue.

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