Abstract
Since the establishment of political culture analysis framework by Almond, it has become an important tool of political science and political analysis. The basic consensus on political culture is that a good political culture can promote political development. Many countries in transformation expect to shape their own civic culture as soon as possible to match their democratization process, but things often go against their wills. They are faced with a dilemma between traditional culture and civic culture at the very beginning of transformation. Besides, the development of political culture does not always present the simple path of traditional to modern type. Therefore, it is very necessary to reflect the principles of political culture development in combination with history and reality. From the view of Chinese scholars, political culture is neither only belief, feeling and attitude of individual, nor the ideology of a nation, but has multi-level content including ideology, value, psychology and action. This view combines the method of political culture analysis, the definition of Soviet culturology and the understanding of Chinese traditional culture. In transforming countries, the development of political culture is mainly manifested in the change and interaction of political subcultures. And at the same time, political subculture interacts with the change of social structure and political system. There are six main types of political subculture in transforming countries: political subculture of countryside and peasants, workers and migrant workers, private entrepreneurs, bureaucrats and officials, middle class and network. Through the analysis of these main types of political subculture in China after the reform and opening up, it can be concluded that political culture may present a complex path of development, and there may also be a variety of different development patterns and ideal forms.
Highlights
Since the establishment of political culture analysis framework by Almond, it has become an important tool of political science and political analysis
From the view of Chinese scholars, political culture is neither only belief, feeling and attitude of individual, nor the ideology of a nation, but has multi-level content including ideology, value, psychology and action. This view combines the method of political culture analysis, the definition of Soviet culturology and the understanding of Chinese traditional culture
Through the analysis of these main types of political subculture in China after the reform and opening up, it can be concluded that political culture may present a complex path of development, and there may be a variety of different development patterns and ideal forms
Summary
40 years ago, there was a unique phenomenon happened in China: the “culture fever”. For no high threshold for the discussion of culture, and neither wealth nor power are needed for it, so soon, it spreads to every social class. 40 years ago, in 1980s, 2 major events took place in political history of China - the end of the “cultural revolution” and the beginning of “reform and opening up” The former implied that many traditional ideas, words, symbols and habits are no longer “rotted” things which are harmful to development and need to be destroyed. If Chinese people in 1980s acknowledge the superiority of their own tradition, it would be very difficult for them to deny the legitimacy of the traditional political regime and institutions, which will inevitable delay the process of modernization If they admitted the advantages of foreign experiences, it would be very difficult for them to accept the process of culture transplantation and admit that their culture needs to be “improved”. What form should political culture in China transform? Secondly, does the transformation of political culture have the same path, such as from tradition to modern, from parochial to participant? Thirdly, will the political culture develop and transform in the same model? Does it develop from middle class to the whole society or transform in process of conflicts between state and society?
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