Political Culture and Electoral System of Pakistan

Media and Politics:

Political culture is a set of beliefs, sentiments and attitudes that give that give orders and meaning to the political process and also provides underlying assumptions and rules that govern behaviour in the political system. It actually encompasses both political ideas and operating norms of a polity. 

Political Culture:

i)    Norms and Values of people

ii)   The ideas of how the political system will be operated.

iii)  Different in different countries

*Political culture defines the political system*

Factors that shape political attitudes

1. Demographic Factors 

• Rural
• Urban

      2. Psychographic Factors

      ●    Emotional attachment

      ●    Voter participation

Factors that make political culture heterogenous    

1. Caste System (Feudal Lords)
2. Language
3. Power hungry
4. Regionalism
5. Tribal system

Factors affecting political culture:

1. Status symbols
2. Corruption
3. Pressure groups (Religion)
4. Misuse of state missionaries
5. Politicization of institutions
6. Violence
7. Voter education
8. Military involvement
9. Foreign involvement
10. ECP (sole responsible for elections)
11. Electoral rigging
12. Suo motu actions
13. Hyper loyalty
14. Mushrooming
15. Role of press

Electoral System of Pakistan

 Strengths:

1. Voter education
2. Training to conduct election’s staff
3. Declaration of assets
4. Providing monitoring facilities
5. Security to polling stations
6. Allows independent candidates to contest election

Weaknesses:

1. Electoral rigging
2. Corruption by electoral staff
3. Voter exploitation
4. Violence / Conflict
5. Costly electoral campaign
6. Misuse of state machinery

Solution:

The solution is the electoral justice system to rectify miserable situation of electoral system.