Patterns of Political Participation and Legitimacy

Abstract

This panel brings together scholars studying political participation in the context of comparative political culture. Examining the legitimacy of political regimes and its determinants this panel combines studies on the role of public deliberation among political elites and media accountability instruments with evidence about the importance of the participation of those potentially affected by political decisions. Thereby, formal democratic institutions are treated as a determinant and a conditioning factor of citizen's engagement in the political process. Empirically, the mainly survey-based studies draw upon a broad range of international public opinion data seeking to provide a better understanding of global differences in political culture which is complemented by a more nuanced perspective from case-study evidence.