The Political Participation Index 2022 by the Economics Intelligence Unit (EIU) shows the extent to which citizens of a nation participate in politics in the world. It was documented that Afghanistan had the least political participation and Norway had the most out of the 167 nations that were studied. Considering the variations in political situations across the countries listed in the index, it becomes evident that the political participation measure portrays diverse scenarios. But what exactly causes such differences in political participation across the world?
Factors Associated with Political Participation
The socioeconomic and political situation in a country along with institutional and individual factors like political trust, education, and interest are some of the factors that influence political participation. In the book Unequal Political Participation Worldwide by Aina Gallego, unequal participation leads to unequal representation. Let’s take an example of voter turnout: In the 2019 elections, India witnessed a voter turnout of 70% while the US saw a turnout of 66% and Afghanistan experienced the lowest turnout of as low as 20%. In every country, some individuals choose to exercise their voting rights and some opt out of participating in electoral processes. Moreover, countries consist of various communities which contribute to the diversity in the political landscape. Not everyone’s preferences and needs regarding policies will be the same. So whose opinions are represented in the decisions made by legislators? In a hypothetical situation where the government listens to the public demand and communities within the public have similar demands, the decision by the government will be congruent with the public opinions. Then in principle, even if individuals abstain from voting, the outcome will still reflect the collective opinion/preference of the public. In Britain, for example, the opinions of voters and non-voters only differ by less than a third of issues so it can be said that their opinions are almost identical. But conversely, if the public demands largely differ from one another, the government has to choose whose demands to be considered first.
Research indicates that American citizens who have low education and low income often favor candidates who promise welfare benefits, highlighting the impact of socioeconomic factors on political preferences. There may be instances of rich people dominating the political processes through their monetary resources; in contrast, those who have fewer resources will have no choice but to spend less, reducing their influence on political processes. Furthermore, the rich also have alternative ways of influencing political processes, such as interaction with the government as a result of their connections. This can lead the economically disadvantaged to think that their demands may not be met, potentially discouraging them from political engagement. However, it should be noted that the majority of this research has been done in America.
For political participation, norms associated with it are also essential. In some societies, political participation is deeply ingrained in the cultural fabric, with citizens viewing it as a civic duty. Switzerland, for example, has strong traditions of direct democracy, where citizens regularly participate in referendums and initiatives which can be attributed to their citizenship norms, political literacy, and political trust. In the case of Norway, as highlighted in the documentary series titled "Sånn er Norge" (Translation: "This is How Norway Is"), particularly in season 2, episode 5, it is evident that political trust plays a pivotal role in encouraging civic participation. Through these examples, the importance of political trust can be seen for enhanced political engagement.
Political apathy is another concern, which refers to a lack of interest in politics. One such example of this is Japan. While the decline in political engagement among youth has been acknowledged by Japanese political parties, political apathy remains an issue in the country. According to this study, in Japan, declining political engagement is attributed to factors such as distrust, negative perceptions, and limited political knowledge. This is majorly due to the failure to address the issues of the youth in Japan. India faces similar challenges, with voter turnout stagnating, which was around 60-70% but has not changed relative to the population. According to NES surveys, this was attributed to the lack of interest in politics. Since such problems are acknowledged by the committees working with the national bodies, interventions should be invented to tackle the low political participation accordingly. Some of these can be enhancing political literacy, promoting initiatives for civic engagement, and improving accessibility to information and media literacy which can prove to be beneficial to increase participation and trust in the political process.
Political participation is a dynamic and multifaceted phenomenon that varies across cultures and contexts. It is a fundamental aspect of democratic societies, allowing citizens to have a voice in shaping the future of their communities and countries. While it is difficult to give a single solution for the factors mentioned here, reflecting on one’s political participation may offer insights into what can be done at an individual level. Therefore, starting with a general understanding of the factors that influence political engagement and the reasons behind them, we can foster active citizenship and participate in meaningful dialogue to create a more participatory and equitable society.
Apoorva Thakur
