Social psychology and political participation

This chapter presents a social-psychological account of political participation. The framework connects the micro-, meso-, and macro-level and separates demand, supply, and mobilization as factors influencing the dynamics of protest participation. Understanding political participation requires research that focuses on the individual citizens—what are their fears, hopes, and concerns? What are the issues they care for? What are the motives they have? What opportunities do they perceive? Research of protest participation tends to neglect that even in identical circumstances individuals diverge widely in the ways they act politically. A proper understanding of that variation requires a framework that integrates the micro-, meso-, and macro-level of analysis. Such integration is frequently asked for but sparsely done.