CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Socialization in general sense refers to a process by which individuals learn the culture of their society. (Harambos and Holbom, 2004). While culture itself is “The totality of learn, socially transmitted customs, knowledge, material objects and behaviour.
The relevance of this subject of discourse cannot be overemphasized as it is key in the development of any active political society. In the Western world, political socialization is at a very high rate this is due to the fact that the citizens are never parochial and do not lack the basic awareness (political).
In African, most especially Nigeria, politics is a preserve of those who are able to acquire wealth and at least educated to a certain level. The ordinary man tends to be a pathetic and show disdain toward politics. Development to strive, the people must be able to partake in politics (Franchise) and be willing to hold public officers accountable for anything done.
The objectives of political socialization carry the frame of making the citizens aware politically and also create that constructivism in criticizing. It also has the tendency of causing and making an impact in development. This is so possible due to the fact that if the leaders are always held responsible and accountable, the spirit to perform better will be there as in the case of ministerial responsibility in public administration.
Political socialization is the process by which people form ideas, values, and artifacts as regards politics (Shaefa, 2010:53). It also refers to the induction of political system (Marshall 1996:400).
Without political socialization, the people attitude towards politics will be parochial, and thus inhibiting development. Through this study focuses on political socialization and its impact on national development with Bayelsa state on case study.
1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
There are some problems that abound when political socialization is lacking in any society. Political apathy, electoral malpractices, uneven development, poor leadership, mismanagement of funds by leader and active political masses.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The purpose of this study is to assess political socialization and its impact on national development. This study sort out the following:
1. How socialization is important to national development
2. To check the rate at which the people of Bayelsa State have a participant political culture.
3. Identify strategies to be applied for the implementation of socialization in our society.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
This study was guided by the following research questions:
i. How does socialization develop the society?
ii. Is political socialization important in national development?
iii. What key agents can bring about political socialization process?
iv. How does political socialization develop a society?
v. What strategies can be applied for the implementation of political socialization in Bayelsa State?
vi. Does political socialization have an impact on national development?
vii. Has political socialization brought about development in Bayelsa State?
viii. Has political socialization affected national development positively?
ix. Is there any significant relationship between political socialization and development in Bayelsa state?
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
As with any research work it is important to ask “why should we study this? Why is it important? There are a number of reasons why the study of political socialization is crucial. First, it expands the scope of political research from the public sphere into the private. It points to the idea that political orientations and attitudes are firmly rooted in identity Voting behaviour scholars have shown time after time that what would otherwise be considered non-political identities actually dictate people’s attitudes toward the political realm. Race, gender, religion, social class and region as well as family and other. Secondary association all play a significant role in determining how, why and to what extend an individual participates in and his knowledge about politics.
The study of politics is intimately personal. Thus, the breadth of political research moves into psychology and sociology. Understanding individual and group relationships and behaviour that gives shape to political orientations.
Secondly, political socialization may impact political stability because of its cross-generational nature. It may also impact political change when exogenous or other factors lead to party or political realignment. The influence of primary and secondary agencies in shaping political attitudes and orientations over time makes the study of political socialization important since it helps explain the stability of democratic political system.
Lastly, political socialization will help the youths and political leaders of Bayelsa state to be aware of political issues such as political participation, voting and having interest in politics. It helps them to know why and how a nation operates.
In gaining clarity on the sources of the public’s perception about government and their resulting political behaviour, we also gain clarity on the operations of government itself.
1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The scope of the study mainly deals with political socialization and its impact on national development with case study of Bayelsa State. Bayelsa State is made up of Eight local government areas; Southern Ijaw, Local Government Area, Yenagoa Local Government Area, Ekeremor Local Government Area, Sagbama Local Government Area, Kolokuma/Opukuma Local Government Area, Ogbia Local Government Area, Nembe Local Government Area and Brass Local Government Area.
1.7 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
Everything one wants to do in life will have obstacles that can reduce the successful outcome of that thing. Therefore, this research work is not an exception. The major limitation of this study was the finance required for the study. This is true because there was issuant of questionnaires to carry out the findings, and all these required money.
Another limitation is that proper materials needed for the research were not available thereby making the whole work difficult.
Time factor was also another limitation, the time frame given to carry out the research was inadequate.
Finally, retrieving questionnaires from the respondents was not easy, in that many questionnaires were not retrieved in the course of the study.
1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS
i. Impact: Impact means the importance of something in the society or an organization. It also refers to a key factor that brings about improvement to unstable society.
ii. National: Pertaining to a particular group of people living in a geographical sphere. It can also be referred to as a nation.
iii. Development: Means rapid growth or improvement, it also means measures taken to improve a society.
iv. Politics: It’s the authoritative allocation of values for a society. And also the determination of who gets what, when and how. A system of behaviour by which a society expresses and chooses its leaders and pursues collective goals.
1.9 GEOGRAPHY OF BAYELSA STATE
Bayelsa has a riverine and estuarine setting. A lot of her communities are almost (and in some cases) completely surrounded by water, hence making these communities inaccessible by road. The state is home to the edumanom forest reserve, in June 2008 the last known sit for chimpanzees in the Niger Delta.
Other important cities besides Yenagoa include Akassa, (Lobia), Amassoma (the home of the Niger Delta University), Ekeremor, Aleibiri, Peretoru, Twon Brass, Kaiama, Nembe, Odi, Ogbia, Okpoama, Brass, Oporoma, Otuan, Sagbama, Olugbobiri, Peremabiri and Swali. It consists of eight local government areas.
Yenagoa Local Government Area in Bayelsa state, Nigeria; its headquarters are in the town of Yenagoa (the state capital) in the south of the area at 40 55’ 29” N 60 15’ 51” EI 4.924720 N 6.264170 E.
The local government has an area of 706km2 and a population of 266, 008 at the 2006 census. The postal code of the area is 561. Yenagoa is the traditional home of the Ijaw people. The Ijaw form the majority of the state. English is the official language, but Epie-Atissa language, one of the Ijaw language, is the major local language spoken in Yenagoa. Since attaining the status of state capital in 1996, construction and other activities have accelerated appreciably Yenagoa’s population is estimated at about 266, 008 people. It is the home of the Bayelsa United FC, a premier league football club.
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