Patterns of Citizenship and Political Action in Korea, Germany and the United States: An Analysis of the 2004 ISSP Data

Abstract

Although there is enormous interest in cross-national differences in the patterns of citizenship and political action as globalization accelerates, we know little about how and why they vary among nations. This study attempts to compare institutional and attitudinal aspects of citizenship among Korea, Germany and the United States. By analyzing the 2004 International Social Survey program data, this study shows that the institutional and legal dimensions of citizenship in Korea and Germany are largely communitarian, in contrast to the individualistic-liberal pattern in the United States. It is also true that American citizens have the most liberal notion of citizenship, followed by German and Korean citizens. At the same time, however, American’s idea of citizenship turns out to be the most republican among the three countries, with German’s idea the least republican. The extent to which the behavioral aspect of citizenship is explained by the attitudinal one is the greatest in the United States, moderate in Germany, and the least in Korea, suggesting that American citizenship is more balanced and mature than other countries in the sense that its two aspects better interact with each other.