(c) Jacobo Luis Ayala

1. Political SocializationPolitical Socialization

2. According to Sodaro (2008) Political Socialization is the
process in which individuals learn about politics and the
political culture of their society

3. Agents of Socialization include:
Peer Groups
Schools
Churches
Places of Employment

4. Recently in Japan, trends show that there has been an
increase in the number of people who do not support any
political party.
A study of patterns of political participation show that while voting rates in
national and local elections are dropping while citizens' movements for
referendums, public information disclosure and environmental protection have
been increasing.

5. Theen and Wilson (1996) stated that Japanese citizens have
had to learn to take part in the new democratic political
opportunities open to them since 1974
Political Participation has increased since then through
party politics

6. There are three major factors that are causing such change
in political culture in Japan: economic, social and
governmental.

7. Economic Factor
The economic factor can be attributed to the decline of
agriculture and manufacturing industries and the rise of
high-tech information industries and higher individual
income
Reduced tension across classes
Market Individualism

8. Social Factor
The social factor points to the increase in nuclear families
(and by proxy the decline of the extended family)
weaker family links to education and occupations and more
education and more media access.

9. Government factor
The government factor involves the developed welfare state
programs that have solved many of the major problems of
the past.

10. In Japan, agents of political socialization are through the
education systems, the media and familial influence.

11. Education systems in Japan promote fierce nationalistic
pride for your country starting from a young age, teaching
Japanese values and principles.
Japanese media is among most creative and technologically
advanced to ingrain political views or impart influences on
the general public that are bombarded with exposure.

12. Family is considered to be of utmost importance in
Japanese culture and this is reflected in the teachings
parents and siblings pass on to their family members, who
have shown significant similarities in political views.

13. • Wilson, F.L,& Theen, R.H.W. (1996). Comparative Politics:
An Introduction to Seven Countries. Upper Saddle River,
New Jersey: Prentice Hall
• Sodaro, M.J (2006) Comparative Politics: A Global
Introduction. New York: McGraw-Hill