Political culture and democratic resilience: a conceptual-theoretical approach. Towards a pluralist political culture [Articol]

Abstract

This study explores the concept of democratic resilience through the lens of civic-political culture, analyzing how it can contribute to maintaining and strengthening democracy in the face of contemporary challenges. Authoritarian populism and radical transformations in the information ecosystem affect the stability of democratic regimes, highlighting the need for a theoretical redefinition of political culture. The study critiques Almond’s normative model of political culture and reconceptualizes it from the perspective of democratic resilience, drawing on Sartori’s theory of pluralism. In this sense, pluralist political culture is seen as a central element of democracy, capable of tempering polarization and enhancing the capacity of democratic institutions to with stand authoritarian regression. Democratic resilience is analyzed both as a process and as an outcome, influenced by structural, functional, and actor-based factors. Within this framework, civic agency and political participation become essential, both through bottom-up actions and public policies aimed at strengthening citizens’ democratic engagement. The research emphasizes the importance of educational and institutional policies that promote political socialization in a pluralist spirit. The final proposal is an integrated approach to political culture that transcends rigid modernization perspectives and focuses on diversity, constructive dissent, and democratic inclusion.