Political Development

One of the important contributions by Gabriel Almond to the theory of political system is his concept of political development. It is on the basis of this concept that he has classified political systems into various types, which we shall presently describe Political change is one of the most pervasive and fundamental factor in the life of the political systems.

Hence, as Almond says, it is necessary that “the study of politics must be a dynamic system-and-process analysis, aid not a static and structural one.”

By political development Almond means any situation or challenge which compels a political system to change or re-adjust its culture or structure. Cultural change is due to secularization and structural change is due to differentiation of roles. Development can be produced due to problems and challenges for change, which are of five kinds, as under.

(i) State-building: It is an integrative response to the challenges confronting a political system.

(ii) Nation-building: It is the system-development by promoting the loyalty and commitment of its nation or people.

 

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