Participation and Social Capital

This article investigates the link between social capital and political participation in Britain. It also outlines evidence on political participation in contemporary Britain, as well as changes in participation over time. This is followed by an examination of the thesis that social capital drives political participation. In addition, evidence on the relationship between social capital and political participation from the 2005 British Election Study is explored. The article then describes the findings and their implications for civic engagement in contemporary Britain. A long-term decline in electoral participation in Britain has been taking place, something which has been happening in other advanced industrial democracies as well. Increasingly citizens are instrumental in their approach to participation, and they will get involved if this furthers their interests, and they avoid involvement when it does not.