Question

Why do people of all ages, income levels, and educational backgrounds not participate in political life? Can anything be done to engage these people?

Answer 1

Political involvement varies significantly according to sex. Men between thirty-five and sixty-five years old are the most involved in politics. People are more likely to have built homes at this point in life than younger people, hold stable jobs and be integrated into communities. People with established roots in the group also have good opportunities and greater resources to get involved in politics.

People under the age of thirty are among those least interested in ways of participation in the mainstream. Young people still lack the time and resources to join in. Nonetheless, many young people understand that engagement matters. Youth have developed working groups to respond to problems they see in their hometowns

Gender participation gap which implies women are lagging behind men in their political engagement rates. The gender gap for certain forms of involvement, such as voting, is narrowing but for things like running for office still exists. Women have been as likely as men since the 1990s to contact elected representatives, sign and distribute petitions, attend local election events, and donate their time to political causes. They engage more in local and state political events than in the national arena, where the most media coverage is focused. Yet women are far less likely to use digital media for politics than men, such as online news outlets and blogs.

Black and white Americans are almost similar in how much time and energy they expend on non-voting activities. They may vary, however, in the types of behaviors they participate in. Whites are more likely to get in contact with government leaders and join political organizations. Black people are particularly interested in political campaigns and social movements.

Political parties should add to their manifestos the following commitments: focus on substantive public participation in the design and implementation of public services rather than the existing patchy or inadequate tick-boxing exercises as found in the public administration. Support current appeals, including through the Commons liaison committee, to strengthen the role of parliament in the outreach. Experiment with novel strategies, such as the Committee for the Future of the Finnish Parliament and a Commissioner for future generations. Consult the public on policy decisions about how to invest money in the next thorough settlement review