CSS Solved Political Science 2026 Past Paper | Political Culture and Political Participation
The following question of CSS Political Science 2026 is solved by Miss Ayesha Irfan, a renowned CSS coach for Islamiat and Political Science. Moreover, the question is attempted using the same pattern taught by Sir Syed Kazim Ali to his students, who have scored the highest marks in compulsory and optional subjects for years. This solved past paper question is uploaded to help aspirants understand how to crack a topic or question, write relevantly, what coherence is, and how to include and connect ideas, opinions, and suggestions to score the maximum.
Question breakdown
The question asks for an analysis of the statement that political culture and political participation are the backbones of a political system’s development. It requires defining both concepts, explaining their interdependence, and showing how they influence the stability, legitimacy, and effectiveness of governance. The candidate must describe the different levels of political culture, parochial, subject, participant, and mixed, and outline the modes of political participation, including conventional, non-conventional, community-based, and elite/mass participation. A high-scoring answer should link theory to practice, showing how culture shapes participation and, in turn, how participation strengthens or weakens political development.
Outline
1- Introduction
2- Political Culture: Concept and Importance
3- Relationship Between Political Culture and Participation
4- Levels of Political Culture
- The Parochial Paradigm: Cognitive Isolation and the Hegemony of Traditionalism
- The Subject Orientation: Passive Compliance and the Bureaucratic Spectator
- The Participant Culture: Proactive Citizenship and the Vitality of Civic Agency
- Hybrid Polities: The Dialectics of Transitional and Mixed Civic Cultures
5- Modes of Political Participation
- Institutionalized Engagement: The Mechanics of Conventional Political Agency
- Extra-Institutional Mobilization: The Dynamics of Non-Conventional Activism
- Sub-National Synergy: Community-Based Participation and Localized Governance
- The Stratification of Influence: The Dialectic Between Elite Manoeuvring and Mass Involvement
6- Significance for Political System Development
7- Conclusion
Answer to the question
Introduction
Political culture and political participation are two interdependent pillars that determine the strength, stability, and development of a political system. Political culture refers to the shared attitudes, beliefs, and values that shape how citizens perceive politics, governance, and their own roles within the system. Political participation, on the other hand, is the range of activities through which citizens engage in the political process, from voting and party membership to protests and civic activism. Together, a robust political culture and active participation foster legitimacy, responsiveness, and resilience in governance structures, forming the backbone of a thriving political system. For example, high levels of civic education and community engagement in Switzerland have contributed to stable governance and consistent citizen participation in referendums.
Political Culture: Concept and Importance
Political culture shapes citizen expectations, public trust, and civic responsibility. A strong, participatory culture encourages citizens to be proactive, supporting democratic norms, legal compliance, and policy effectiveness. Countries like Sweden and Denmark, with high social trust and civic engagement, demonstrate stable democracies where political culture reinforces institutional integrity. Conversely, weak or fragmented political culture, as seen in some post-colonial African states, can lead to political apathy, corruption, and authoritarian tendencies, undermining governance and citizen confidence.
Relationship Between Political Culture and Participation
Political culture and participation are mutually reinforcing. A healthy political culture encourages active participation, which strengthens institutions and ensures government accountability. Conversely, weak culture or low civic awareness leads to political apathy, disengagement, and vulnerability to authoritarian rule. For instance, high voter turnout in countries like Germany reflects a participatory culture, while the low participation rates in Haiti during elections indicate a weak civic culture despite formal democratic structures.
Levels of Political Culture
- The Parochial Paradigm: Cognitive Isolation and the Hegemony of Traditionalism
In parochial political cultures, citizens have minimal awareness of politics and perceive rulers as distant authorities. Participation is limited or nonexistent, and traditional norms dominate. Such cultures are common in tribal societies, for example, some rural communities in Afghanistan, where political engagement is largely ceremonial or symbolic.
- The Subject Orientation: Passive Compliance and the Bureaucratic Spectator
Subject cultures exhibit greater awareness of political authority but limited active participation. Citizens observe policies and obey laws but rarely influence decision-making. Bureaucratic compliance is common in centralized or authoritarian regimes, like in China, where citizens are aware of governance, but engagement in policymaking is limited.
- The Participant Culture: Proactive Citizenship and the Vitality of Civic Agency
Participant cultures are characterized by high awareness, civic responsibility, and active engagement. Citizens vote, join political parties, participate in debates, and engage in community initiatives. India, with its active electorate and large-scale civic movements, exemplifies participant culture, where citizen involvement sustains democratic legitimacy.
- Hybrid Polities: The Dialectics of Transitional and Mixed Civic Culture
Many modern societies exhibit mixed or transitional cultures, combining elements of parochial, subject, and participant orientations. For example, Nigeria has vibrant urban political participation but limited engagement in rural areas, reflecting a hybrid civic culture.
Modes of Political Participation
- Institutionalized Engagement: The Mechanics of Conventional Political Agency
Conventional participation includes formal activities such as voting, joining political parties, or advocacy within established political structures. For instance, voter registration drives and elections in Canada reflect institutionalized engagement that reinforces democratic norms.
- Extra-Institutional Mobilization: The Dynamics of Non-Conventional Activism
Non-conventional participation involves protests, civil disobedience, or digital activism. The Arab Spring illustrates how citizens bypassed formal institutions to demand political reform and social justice.
- Sub-National Synergy: Community-Based Participation and Localized Governance
Local engagement through civic groups, municipal councils, and volunteer initiatives fosters grassroots empowerment. For example, Brazil’s participatory budgeting programs in Porto Alegre allow citizens to directly influence local development priorities.
- The Stratification of Influence: The Dialectic Between Elite Manoeuvring and Mass Involvement
Political influence often involves interaction between elites and the masses. Elites shape policy agendas, while mass participation provides legitimacy. The United States’ civil rights movement demonstrates how grassroots mobilization can challenge elite-dominated policy-making and achieve systemic change.
Significance for Political System Development: A Critical Analysis
A strong political culture combined with active participation ensures system stability, legitimacy, and effectiveness. Participatory culture enhances policy compliance, social cohesion, and resilience during crises. For instance, Scandinavian countries’ high civic engagement has contributed to long-term democratic consolidation. In contrast, fragmented political culture in post-conflict states like Afghanistan often leads to weak institutions and political instability.
Conclusion
Political culture and political participation are mutually reinforcing and indispensable for the development of a political system. Levels of culture, from parochial to participant, determine the quality and depth of citizen engagement, while modes of participation provide mechanisms for exercising influence and maintaining accountability. Examples from Switzerland, India, Brazil, and the United States demonstrate that societies with strong civic culture and active participation enjoy stable governance, effective policy-making, and social cohesion. Without these foundations, even well-designed institutions struggle to function effectively, emphasizing the centrality of culture and participation in political development.
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