Читать книгу Political Science For Dummies - Marcus A. Stadelmann - Страница 67

In a participant political culture, political scientists find the true democratic citizens. They understand how the political process works and they’re interested in the issues of the day. When they vote, they base their vote on knowledge of issues and candidate stances on issues. For this reason, they can hold their government accountable, and if they dislike what they see, they can replace it. Participants are further proud and supportive of their political system. They believe that they hold political power and can influence policy making. In other words, they believe that they have political efficacy. Finally, participants are active at all levels of politics; they don’t just vote but also volunteer for civic organizations. They’re not afraid to discuss politics at the dinner table and with friends. Participants are truly the backbone of a democracy.

Political efficacy refers to people feeling that they have some input in decision-making. In other words, they don’t feel powerless.