Political participation in america TRICIA JONES American National Government: The Good Citizen Assignment

BOWLING ALONE OR PROTESTING WITH A GROUP The Good Citizen: How a Younger Generation Is Reshaping American Politics - Chapter 4 - BOWLING ALONE OR PROTESTING WITH A GROUP Summary of Chapter 4,The Good Citizen: How a Younger Generation Is Reshaping American Politics, Chapter 4, Bowling Alone or Protesting With a Group by Russell Dalton

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION Public Participation in America

Importance of PUBLIC PARTICIPATION Participation is a prime criterion for defining the democratic citizen and his or her role within the political process. A participatory public is a defining feature of American politics and strength of the U.S. political system. Without public involvement in the process, democracy lacks both its legitimacy and its guiding force. Political participation “is at the heart of democratic theory and at the heart of the democratic political formula in the United States” Dalton, 2008, p.53, 54

DECLINE IN POLITICAL PARTICIPATION A considerable body of contemporary research argues that political participation is declining among the public. Robert Putnam concludes: “declining electoral participation is merely the most visible symptom of a broader disengagement from community life. Most analysts view the younger generation as the primary source of this decline. Fewer Americans seem engaged in elections, and other evidence points to a drop in campaign activity. Dalton, 2008, p.54

Increase IN political action Evidence points to increases in several forms of political action, especially among the young. Americans are changing their style of political action rather than dropping out from politics entirely. America is witnessing a change in the nature of citizenship and political participation that is leading to a renaissance of democratic participation rather than a general decline in participation. Trends in participation, tolerance, and policy priorities reflect a younger generation that is more engaged, more tolerant, and more supportive of social justice. Many political causes still motivate the young. This evidence is an indication that Americans have not become politically disengaged. Dalton, 2008, p.54,55

WHAT COULD YOU DO TO INFLUENCE THE GOVERNMENT? Political influence WHAT COULD YOU DO TO INFLUENCE THE GOVERNMENT? Participation means more avenues of influence. People tend to specialize in activities that match their motivations and goals. People see expanding options for how they can influence government…petitions, protests, demonstrations, boycotts as a primary means of political influence. Dalton, 2008, p.57

Modes of Political INFLUENCE Voting is a form of action for those with limited skills, resources and motivations In the 2004 election, Americans aged 55 and older voted at a rate of 72 percent, while those ages 18– 24 did so at a rate of only 47 percent. Participation in campaigns extends electoral participation beyond voting. Several analysts argue that campaign activity has also followed a downward spiral. Even if fewer people vote, election campaigns still engage a significant share of the American public. Studies of political participation in the 1960’s and 1970’s stressed the public’s high active levels. The political culture encouraged people to participate: Americans were active in voluntary associations, engaged in political discussion, and involved political affairs. Voting is important, but citizens are now much more likely to say they would turn to other methods when trying to influence government. In 1967 two thirds said they regularly voted in presidential elections and half said they always voted in local elections. In 1987 both statistics had dropped significantly. Dalton contends that voter turnout on it’s own provides a poor indicator of overall political involvement. Fewer people are routinely active in campaigns because campaign work requires more initiative, more time and more political sophistication. Participation in elections and voting has decreased, but most other activities have increased or remained reasonably constant. Dalton, 2008, p.58,59 VOTING CAMPAIGN ACTIVITY

Modes of Political INFLUENCE Communal participation involves group efforts to deal with social or community problems. Democracy in action. Independent group action defines the character of a civil society and is considered a foundation of the democratic process. Group based participation has long been cited as a distinctive aspect of the American political culture. Both contacting a local government official and a national government official have increased by more than 20% across two decades. Direct contacting becomes the most frequently proposed method of political action for local government (55%) and national government (84%). A mode of political action is working with others to address political issues – communal activity. Another mode of political action is personally contacting a politician, government official, or media person about a political issue. Dalton, 2008, p.61,62 COMMUNAL ACTIVITY CONTACTING OFFICIALS

Modes of Political INFLUENCE Protest can focus on specific issues or policy goals. Advocates of protest argue that citizens can increase their political influence by adopting a strategy of direct action. Protest has become so common that it is now the extension of conventional political action by other means. The internet provides a new way for people to connect to others, to gather and share information and to attempt to influence the political process. Web sites are now a standard feature of electoral politics. Protest is another form of participation. Protest not only expands the repertoire of political participation, but it is a style of action that differs markedly from electoral politics. The internet is creating form of political activism that did not previously exist. Emails are the most common form of communications from constituents. Dalton, 2008, p.64-66 PROTEST INTERNET ACTIVISM

CITIZENSHIP NORMS AND PARTICIPATION SOCIAL CHANGES RESHAPE POLITICAL ACTION! Social characteristics change the norms of citizenship that lead people to different styles of participation. Social status is a predictor of political activity. Social modernization and generational change may be reshaping the participation patterns of Americans. Duty-Based Norms Engaged Citizenship There are two faces of citizenship in America, with distinctly different emphases of what it means to be a good citizen: Duty-Based Norms and Engaged Citizenship Dalton, 2008, p.72

Citizenship norms Norms of citizenship are changing across the generations, producing different patterns of participation and other behavioral consequences.

Duty-based norms Duty-based norms reinforce traditional forms of political activity such as voting and party activity. Good citizenship includes as one of its elements the “duty to vote”. Wolfinger and Rosenstone stressed the role of duty in describing why people vote: “the most important benefit of voting is a feeling that one has done one’s duty to society…. and to oneself.” Dalton, 2008, p.72

Engaged citizenship Engaged citizenship employs participatory norms that are more comprehensive than electoral politics. The engaged citizen is more likely to participate in boycotts, protests, demonstrations, and other forms of antagonistic activities. New methods of political participation are supported by participatory norms and the willingness to have an influence, something that comes along with engaged citizenship. Dalton, 2008, p.72

POLITICAL PARTICIPATION IN AMERICA Lessons learned Conclusion

POLITICAL PARTICIPATION IN AMERICA DALTON PRESENTS THREE LESSONS LEARNED FROM HIS FINDINGS There is more to democracy than elections and turnout rates in elections provide a poor indicator of the overall political involvement of Americans. Changes in citizenship norms and the social composition of the American public are shifting the nature of political action. The changing mix of participation activities has implication for the nature and quality of citizen influence. Engaged citizenship stimulates people to be active, especially in methods that give them more direct say and influence. The importance of citizen-duty as a predictor of voting turnout and party work illustrates how these citizenship norms motivate turnout. Dalton, 2008, p.77,78

works cited A Portrait of “Generation Next,” Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, Washington DC, 2007. Conference on Citizenship, Involvement and Democracy at the Center for Democracy and the Third Sector, Georgetown University, December 2005. Dalton, Russell J. "Chapter 4." The Good Citizen: How a Younger Generation Is Reshaping American Politics. Washington, D.C.: CQ, 2009. N. pag. Print. Democracy and culture, Elections and party politics across the US, Jennifer Oser, Marc Hooghe, Sofie Marien.Web. http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/political- participation-in-the-united-states-influences-voter-turnout.html http://electionstudies.org/index.htm http://vimeo.com/22249259 (Video/Russell Dalton) References