Network Politicization and Political Integration

In the past, political cleavages connected the entire electorate to the political arena. The political system was, thus, well integrated and participation highly equal. This chapter argues and shows that sophistication is a new dividing line in the post-cleavage society. Moreover, lacking clear cues from cleavage organizations (i.e. political parties, churches and unions) individuals are increasingly dependent on the politicizing effect of private networks. This chapter illustrates how talking politics is relevant for non-cleavage groups but not for cleavage groups. This is accomplished by comparing cleavage voters—church affiliated Catholics and unionized workers—with sections of the electorate which are not linked to the traditional cleavage structure. The decline of traditional cleavage structures therefore increases the discriminating relevance of both sophistication and politicized networks. As a result, political integration moves into decline and electoral participation becomes increasingly unequal.