Inefficiency of the Social System and Cognitive Dissonance in Cultural Policy-Making

Abstract

Inefficiency in socio-administrative systems has, in recent decades, become one of the central issues in analyses within the fields of sociology, social psychology, and public policy-making. This phenomenon often stems from a misalignment between formal values, cultural policies, and the lived social realities, which manifests as a form of structural and functional gap. In this context, the concept of cognitive dissonance, introduced by Festinger (1957), provides a theoretical framework for explaining the conflict among beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors, thereby enabling a deeper analysis of this inefficiency at both individual and institutional levels. The present study adopts a qualitative approach based on documentary and theoretical analysis to examine the role of cognitive dissonances in the process of cultural policy-making and their impact on the efficiency of the socio-administrative system. In this regard, the theoretical works of scholars such as Bourdieu (1986), Habermas (1984), and Putnam (2000) are considered to clarify the interconnections among culture, power, social communication, and social capital in explaining systemic efficiency. The findings indicate that as the gap between official cultural policies and citizens’ lived experiences widens, levels of social distrust, dual behaviors, and reduced civic participation intensify. This situation, in turn, leads to the weakening of the legitimacy of administrative institutions and a decline in policy effectiveness. Ultimately, the results suggest that reducing inefficiency in the socio-administrative system requires alignment among values, policies, and institutional practices, strengthening social participation in the cultural policy-making process, and recognizing cultural diversity and plurality within society. Only through such an approach can cognitive dissonances be mitigated and the conditions for enhancing efficiency and social cohesion be established.