Democratic Phoenix: Reinventing Political Activism by Pippa Norris - 2002

Cambridge University Press, 2002. First edition. Softcover. New. Conventional wisdom suggests that citizens in many countries have become disengaged from traditional political participation. Commentators highlight warning signs including sagging electoral turnout, rising anti-party sentiment, and the decay of civic organizations. But are these concerns justified? This book compares systematic evidence in countries around the world and suggests good reasons to question assumptions of decline. Not only is the obituary for older forms of political activism premature, but new forms of civic engagement may have emerged in modern societies to supplement traditional modes. Contents 1. The decline and fall of political activism? 2. Theories of political activism 3. Mapping turnout 4. Do institutions matter? 5. Who votes? 6. Mapping party activism 7. Who joins? 8. Civic society and social capital 9. Traditional mobilizing agencies: unions and churches 10. New social movements, protest politics and the internet 11. Conclusions: the reinvention of political activism? Printed Pages: 304.