Associational Involvement and Political Participation in Portugal: Insights from a Longitudinal and Comparative Study

Abstract

associational involvement and political participation in Portugal and place our case within the larger European context and over time. It seeks to address key questions:What is the extent of Portuguese citizens’ involvement associations1 and how do they participate in their country’s political and civic life? What changes have taken place over time in terms of associational involvement and political participation in Portugal, and how does Portugal compare to other European countries? Perhaps, most impor tantly what factors drive membership and active involvement in civil society associations, and is there a difference between those who are actively involved and those who are passively involved in these associations? To answer these research questions, we rely on an original opinion survey data (Lisi et al., 2021) and secondary data, and resort to statistical analysis for analyzing the collected data. Although the primary objective of this study is not to examine the relationship between associational involvement and political participation (e.g. Aggeborn et al., 2021), it is essential to acknowledge that both factors play crucial roles in promoting civic engagement and sustaining democratic societies. Thus, a comprehensive analysis of the social fabric of a country necessitates the examination of both aspects.