74% Vote, But Activism Beats Voting For Real Representation
A 40-country study of 270,000 people finds that voting doesn't guarantee better representation, but other forms of activism like demonstrating and contacting politicians do
A groundbreaking study across 40 countries has found that political activism, such as demonstrating, organizing petitions, and contacting politicians, is linked to better representation, while voting does not necessarily correlate with better representation. The study, which analyzed survey data from 270,000 people between 1996 and 2016, reveals that 74% of respondents had voted, while 26% had not. However, voters' views were no more reflected in policies than those of nonvoters.
The study found that other forms of political activity, such as demonstrating, organizing petitions, boycotting, and contacting politicians, were associated with policy outcomes. The more political activities a person takes part in between elections, the greater the chance that they will get the policies they prefer five years later.
The researchers controlled for socioeconomic factors such as education, income, age, gender, and geographic location, and found that the link between political activism and better representation remained even after controlling for these factors.
## What the study means The study's findings have significant implications for how people can effectively influence politics. While voting is often seen as the primary means of participation, the study suggests that other forms of activism can be more effective in bringing about desired policy outcomes.
## Why it matters The study's results matter because they highlight the importance of ongoing political engagement and activism in shaping policy outcomes. In a world where many people feel disillusioned with the political process, the study provides evidence that individual actions can make a difference. By participating in various forms of activism, individuals can increase the chances of getting the policies they prefer, even if they are not reflected in election results.
The study's findings are published in the journal Political Behavior, and provide new insights into the relationship between political participation and representation. As political scientists continue to study the effects of different forms of participation, this study provides a significant contribution to our understanding of how individuals can effectively influence politics.
