participation

   Political participation refers to activity by individuals that is intended to influence who governs and/or the decisions taken by those who do so. Citizens can be classified both by the extent of their political involvement, using the Milbrath and Goel division of Americans into a small number of gladiators (an overwhelming number of spectators and a substantial number of apathetics) and by the nature of their engagement (for example, the use of conventional or unconventional approaches).

   Broadly, participation in most democracies is greater among high-status social groups (for example, welleducated, professional middle-class men) than among women, young people and disadvantaged/disaffected members of society. Methods of engagement in political action range from voting, through membership of political parties and pressure groups, to direct action. In Britain, there is evidence of a decline in popular participation via the more traditional routes, particularly among young people, electoral turnout has decreased in all types of election, party membership and party activism have declined and there has been a weakening in the level of partisan attachments among the voters. However, not all types of participation have been in decline. There is a growing interest in alternative forms of political engagement, such as contacting one of the numerous media outlets, involvement in pressure-group activity (particularly those groups concerned with animal rights and environmental issues) and participation in personal protests such as the boycotting or buying of goods for ethical and political reasons (fair-trade coffee, for example).

   Further reading: L. Gilbrath and M. Goel, Political Participation: How and Why Do People Get Involved in Politics?, Rand McNally, 1977; see also the report of the Power Commission, Power to the People, for the Rowntree Trust, 2006