Until I entered university 30 years ago, “politics” was rarely discussed in my house. In fact, I rarely watch the news which is one of the main sources of information about politics. At that time I read the newspapers, but political news did not interest me. In that sense, I would say that my political socialisation took place in school where I learned about the history of my country through History; how to be a good citizen through Civics; and how the Government was established and operated through General Studies when I was in Form 6.
My awareness of politics started late, around the age of 23. This awareness stems from my admiration for Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who was the Prime Minister of Malaysia at that time. His charismatic personality and leadership greatly influenced my political views and inclination.
On the contrary, my daughter’s political socialisation started earlier, before she went to school. With me and the father talking about politics almost every day in the car or at the dinner table, and the fact that she was there beside us when we watched the news, exposed her to information about politics earlier and this will definitely shape her political views and opinions. Now with the social media, another powerful agent of political socialisation for people her age, I am sure that her way of thinking about politics is different from mine and maybe she is more ready to cast her first vote as compared to me when I casted mine 30 years ago.
According to Thomas Magstadt, “Political socialisation is the process where the citizens develop the values, attitudes, belief and opinion that enable them to support the political system.” In other words, political socialisation is the process that makes an individual think about politics the way he or she does.
The researchers stated that among the characteristics of political socialisation are: (i) it involves the transfer of political beliefs and values from one generation to another; (ii) it is a continuous process from birth to death; (iii) it is a source of political change and a source of political stability; (iv) it is part of a larger socialisation process; (v) it prepares the community with knowledge and motivation to participate in politics; (vi) it can increase public support for the existing political system; and, (vii) every individual goes through this process as long as he has family and society.
Among the main agents of political socialisation are the family, school, peers and the media. The family is the earliest and most effective agent of political socialisation. A family that is politically active will influence the political orientation of its children in the future, especially in aspects such as the political party supported by the children, the political ideology that they hold and the children’s level of political participation. Since politics is always discussed at the dinner table, children will eventually follow and support the political party and political ideology held by their parents.
However, children do not always continue to support their parents’ political orientation. They may support them in their teens and early adulthood. They may change their political leanings when exposed to new political views.
The school implements political socialisation through subjects specifically Civics, History and Government. Through school activities such as selecting the Head of Class and the assistant; or selecting the President and committee members of an association; and when the selected students carry out these roles; the school is indirectly teaching about political values such as competition and compliance to the rules.
Peers also play a role in this political socialisation process. This is very true among the teenagers and it will continue until they become young adults. At this age, peers play a very important role in an individual life and therefore, he or she will take seriously the political views of his peers. Peers will provide explanations and translations to a political content. Individuals will consider these political views before they participate in political activities such as voting.
Another agent of political socialisation is the media. It doesn’t matter which media is more dominant in our lives, newspapers, radio, television, internet or the social media. The media influences our political views as it provides a variety of political information in the form of news, analysis and opinions. Since childhood, everybody goes through the process of political socialisation by the family, school, peers and the media. The result of this political socialisation will determine the individual’s political views, his political participation and finally, who he votes for.
