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Enhancing Democracy: Can Civic Engagement Foster Political Participation?

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  • Martin Binder

Abstract

Objective The aim of the present article is to address Tocqueville's hypothesis that voluntary associations and volunteering are breeding grounds for democratic virtues and skills and thus enhance political participation. Methods Data from the British Household Panel Survey data set spanning the years 1991–2008 are analyzed using multivariate panel data regression techniques to assess the effect of voluntary association membership/activities on political participation in the United Kingdom. Results It is found that organizational activity (more than mere membership) positively impacts political participation, but these effects are smaller than usually found and depend on types of associations and degree of activity. Sensitivity analyses support the finding that the political interest more strongly predicts political party support than associational activities. Further support for causal interpretations is scant. Conclusion Some evidence for Tocqueville's hypothesis can be found for the United kingdom during the sample horizon, but the effect is sensitive to model specification and issues of reverse causation remain.

Suggested Citation

  • Martin Binder, 2021. "Enhancing Democracy: Can Civic Engagement Foster Political Participation?," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 102(1), pages 47-68, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:socsci:v:102:y:2021:i:1:p:47-68
    DOI: 10.1111/ssqu.12882
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Stephan Meier & Alois Stutzer, 2008. "Is Volunteering Rewarding in Itself?," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 75(297), pages 39-59, February.
    2. Graham, Carol & Eggers, Andrew & Sukhtankar, Sandip, 2004. "Does happiness pay?: An exploration based on panel data from Russia," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 55(3), pages 319-342, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Timothy P. Johnson & Henning Silber & Jill E. Darling, 2024. "Public perceptions of pollsters in the United States: Experimental evidence," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 105(1), pages 114-127, January.
    2. Pilar Rico-Bordera & José A. Piqueras & Victoria Soto-Sanz & Tíscar Rodríguez-Jiménez & Juan-Carlos Marzo & Manuel Galán & David Pineda, 2023. "Civic Engagement and Personality: Associations with the Big Five and the Dark Triad," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-13, January.

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