The paper explores why people get involved in local politics – and why they don’t. Research on reasons for political participation usually analyse correlations between types of participation and various explanatory variables. Here the approach will be different, using data from the 2007 Norwegian Local Democracy Survey. Those who had participated in local politics (by any type of participation) were asked about the relative importance of a series of possible motivations for their activity. Those who did not participate were asked about the importance of reasons for inactivity. Involvement in political issues clearly stands out as the most important reason for political activity. However, connection to a recruitment network is also a significant motivation – and the lack of such connections a reason for inactivity. Social and career-oriented reasons for participation seem less important. Considering non-participation, other reasons are equally important as the issue-oriented: lack of resources as time and knowledge, and the belief that participation does not have any effects. Satisfaction with policy is also a motivation for inactivity, but of medium importance. Furthermore, the paper explores the relationship between these motivations and four explanatory variables (gender, age, education and municipal size) as well as different types of political participation. People at different stages of the life cycle have, not surprisingly, different reasons for inactivity. Different types of participation also seem to be associated with different motivations. For petitions and action groups we find relatively many women, young and highly educated people, but also a motivation profile characterized by issue involvement and dissatisfaction. The opposite profile applies to participation within the institutions of representative democracy. Here we find relatively many men, elderly and less educated. Among their motives, the wish to learn as well as contacts and network-building gains somewhat more importance.
