One of the most important elements of political culture is the sense of identification with the nation. Since the early nineteenth century, the "irreducible core" of a political culture has been associated with "a strong sense of national identity which large numbers of individuals have been able to share". Pride in country is a variable often cited in comparative political studies because higher levels of national pride are associated with other attitudes, such as trust and support. One should recognize at the outset, however, that "national pride" is no easy concept to isolate, or compare. The levels of pride that the British and Japanese feel toward their respective nations differ as a result of the distinctly different histories of political development in the two countries. While the peoples of both countries exhibit high levels of national pride, the British are proud of political institutions as well as history and cultural heritage.