3.2 Political Cleavages and Political Culture in Context

What are political cleavages?

Political cleavages are social divisions — like class, religion, ethnicity, region, or urban/rural status — that shape political attitudes and party alignment. Cleavages become politically significant when they translate into voting patterns, party systems, or conflict. Countries with overlapping (reinforcing) cleavages tend to see sharper polarization, while crosscutting cleavages can moderate conflict by pulling people in different directions on different issues.

Cleavages across the six countries

Examples include class in the UK (Labour vs. Conservative roots), religion in Nigeria (Muslim north vs. Christian south) and Iran (clerical authority), ethnicity in Nigeria and Russia, region/language in Mexico and China, and urban–rural divides nearly everywhere. These cleavages influence political culture — shared attitudes, beliefs, and values about government — and can affect legitimacy, participation, and stability.

Cleavages and political culture outcomes

Deep, reinforcing cleavages can fuel separatist movements (e.g., Chechnya in Russia, Hong Kong in China) or civil conflict (Nigeria's Biafra). Political culture shaped by cleavages affects citizens' trust in institutions, willingness to comply with authority, and support for democracy. Governments may respond with federalism, power-sharing, or repression to manage cleavage-based tensions.

Key terms

Political cleavage

A social division (e.g., class, religion, ethnicity, region) that shapes political attitudes and alignment.

Reinforcing cleavages

Overlapping social divisions (e.g., religion and region) that intensify political polarization and conflict.

Crosscutting cleavages

Divisions that cut across each other, moderating conflict since group loyalties differ by issue.

Political culture

Shared attitudes, beliefs, and values citizens hold about government, authority, and political life.

Example: Nigeria's religious cleavage

A predominantly Muslim north and Christian south create political tension and shape party alignment and conflict.

Try an AP-style question

A political cleavage is…

1. a type of national election
2. an alliance between two parties
3. a social divide shaping conflict
4. a clause in the constitution