Individualistic Subcultures Of Political Culture

The definition of a political culture is a set of attitudes and practices held by a people that shapes their political behavior. Political culture is a powerful, unifying concept of political science. It includes beliefs, and ideas about what makes for a good society. A political culture is developed through associations such as family, peer groups, religion, and educational level.

Daniel Elazar’s concept of three political cultures are a mix of moralistic, individualistic, and traditionalistic subcultures. In the moralistic subculture, society is held to be more important than the individual. Individualism is not suppressed in any way, but the moralistic subculture functions for the benefit of the general public. In it government is seen as a positive force. Good government is measured by the degree to which it promotes the public good. Politicians are expected not to profit from political activity. Upper New England, the Upper Middle West and portions of the west are the central areas for this culture type.

In the individualistic political culture, government is seen as having a very practical orientation. Government is instituted for largely utilitarian reasons and to further private
This subculture fostered the idea that less government is good government. Texas’s frontier experience further solidified it individualistic ideology, because of its large size and geographical location. It was because of the frontier atmosphere that Texas governed itself how and when it wanted to. For over a hundred years Texas practiced frontier justice. Do to a lack of resources criminals were tried and hanged on the same day. Gun ownership was and still is one of the main focal points of being in the Texas individualistic subculture. Frontier life was tough and self-reliance was paramount in order to survive. With little or no government on the frontier businesses went