Political socialization is defined as the learning process in which people learn to understand their political behavior, opinions as well as their identities. Through parents and peers, the lifelong experiences of political socialization play an important role in developing traits such as patriotism. In both Norway and Thailand, political socialization manifests itself through historical, cultural, media influences and more. Although each country has their unique system, they also have similar ideologies as to paving the way to a more aware and engaged political participation. In the subsequent line, we dive into the Kingdoms political socialization and the public’s opinion facing various common issues.

Thailand’s political socialization is deeply intertwined with both the historical and the cultural. The monarchy and Thailand’s deep respect and loyalty to the institution shaped with no doubt their political attitudes. For a long time, the monarchy represented continuity and a sense of stability. Through being accustomed, the Thai people learned to develop a sense of national identity, a deference towards authority. Although the historical background and the cultural background plays such an important focus into who they are, education plays a crucial role as well. It is through the educational system that Thai students are instilled with a sense of nationalism for their beloved country. They learn the importance of democracy, human rights and social responsibilities. Moreover, higher education institutions serve as platforms for students to engage in critical thinking all while developing many political perspectives. University campuses have constantly witnessed political movements, protesting for a better future all while encouraging active citizenship. Norway’s experience is not too far different from the Kingdom of Thailand as to education playing such an important role in their lives. From a very early age, Norwegians are exposed to a robust civic curriculum. Through social studies, they learn about the essentials such as human rights, the Norwegian political system and how to be a patriot. This education encourages the students to vote and join grassroot activism. In the Norway analysis article, it says, “schools provide common symbols (like Norwegian flag) and history classes to spark interest or affection toward the current political system.” and also mentions that, “Since half of the Council of State must be from the Church of Norway, the Church serves as a medium of exchange for political values.”

Furthermore, in Thailand the media landscape seems to be diverse (newspapers, television, online platforms). Although the internet can be extremely restricted, the diversity of perspectives is accessible to the population. In recent years, it is said that social media platforms have emerged truly powerful tools for political expression. They use it to share their opinions, share information with one another and do their civic duty. Nonetheless, in Norway the media landscape provides a useful amount of diverse viewpoints, helping citizens to stay informed about the current events in their country and internationally. The Kingdom is well known today for its high journalistic standards and objectivity. To analyze further, Norway is also a country where societal norms play a key role in political socialization. They place an emphasis on social justice, collective welfare as well as instilling a sense of social responsibility in their citizens as well as the government. The importance of inclusiveness in the process of decision making reinforces individuals to engage in different dialogues. 

Thailand and Norway also exhibit distinct opinions regarding climate change and environmental protection, as well as their political stability and democracy.

Thailand’s public awareness of the many environmental issues has been rapidly growing. A survey (study) that was conducted by Thailand’s environment institute shows that a majority of Thai do want the government to prioritize environmental protection and climate change. They are concerned about air pollution, deforestation and the impact that this will have as a long term issue on their livelihoods but the country’s economy as it relies on natural resources. However, Norway has been at the forefront of protecting their environment. The public opinion and the data demonstrates a good amount of support in regards to investments in renewable energy and a survey that was conducted by the Norwegian institution also asserts that most Norwegians prioritize environmental conservation. This directly aligns with the goal of Norway being the reduction of carbon emissions. 

Additionally, Thailand’s public opinion data on political stability in recent years has been up and down because there are some people expressing a lack of confidence in the government’s ability to maintain stability while others are confident that they can. Moreover, the erosion of democratic principles seems to also be an issue that not a lot of people agree on and is still up for debate. However, there are ongoing efforts towards strengthening democratic institutions. Norway consistently ranks in global democracy indices. The public opinion is that they trust the government and political institution. The survey that was conducted by the Norwegian centre for research data found that a majority of people expressed their confidence and support towards political parties and overall governance and that this perception is due to the accountability and transparency that they have been accustomed to. In this article it says, “Trust in government in Norway is high compared to OECD and Scandinavian countries, in 2021 trust in government in Norway reached 77% compared to 47% in OECD.”

Analyzing the public opinion about Thailand and Norway on common issues highlight their similarities and once again their disparities. By considering public data and their political socialization, as well as their ideologies, they both truly stand out as to the gaps, but also the progress that they are continuously making. 

Work Cited

1. Khan, H. (2016), “The Linkage Between Political Trust and the Quality of Government: An Analysis”, International Journal of Public Administration, Vol. 39/9, pp. 665-675, https://doi.org/10.1080/01900692.2015.1068329.

2. Miller, A. and O. Listhaug (1998), “Policy preferences and political distrust: A comparison of Norway, Sweden and the United States”, British Journal of Political Science, Vol. 20/3, pp. 357-386.

3. “PoliticalSocialization.”Norway,norwaystructuralanalysis.weebly.com/political-socialization.html. Accessed 12 June 2023. 

4. OECD (2017), Trust and Public Policy: How Better Governance Can Help Rebuild Public Trust, OECD Public Governance Reviews, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://dx.doi.org/10.1787/9789264268920-en.

5. Longley, Robert. “What Is Political Socialization? Definition and Examples.” ThoughtCo, 1 Dec. 2022, www.thoughtco.com/political-socialization-5104843.