The Emergence of New Types of Political Participation and Its Consequences

Abstract

There is a growing concern about declining levels of electoral participation in advanced democracies. Citizens are seen as increasingly disillusioned and disengaged with politics, raising questions about their civic-mindedness and their commitment to democratic norms and duties. This decline in turnout is considered detrimental to the functioning of democracy because it touches on its legitimacy as a political system, and raises concerns about representation of certain groups within society. The more optimistic view holds that individuals are not engaging less politically, but are rather engaging in a wide range of activities that go beyond merely voting. New types of political participation have emerged that rely on the use of direct action and the manipulation of public opinion to pressure politicians; and that are increasingly acted out in non-traditional arenas like the world-wide web and the marketplace. Notwithstanding this claim, the consequences of the emergence of these new types of political participation for political equality have been neglected. Equality in participation is key to political equality, one of the main principles of democracy. It can be valued because it is educational as a means of learning about politics, democracy and one’s own needs and preferences; or because it enables equal consideration of those needs and preferences. The aim of this panel is to start addressing this gap. Among the questions of interest are: 1) To what extent has the emergence of new types of political participation affected political equality? 2) How do new types of political participation differ from the more traditional types in the extent to which they represent the interests of those engaging? 3) And how do they differ in the extent to which they provide participants with a means to learn about politics, democracy and their own needs and preferences?

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