Party Workers, Ambassadors, Veterans and All the Other Party Members

Publikation: Bidrag til bog/antologi/rapportBidrag til bog/antologiForskningfagfællebedømt

They are in the streets with folders, balloons, and sweets at election time, their letters to the editor are found in the debate sections of newspapers, and they are clapping at the celebration of the party chair’s speech in the televised transmission from the party’s annual meeting. However, while many party members engage in a plethora of party activities, some clearly participate more than others. What dimensions are found in party member activism across the parties? We find that two dimensions come through in all the factor analyses. The main dimension in the participation of Scandinavian party members is termed ‘party workers’ and is characterized by a broad range of activities such as attending meetings, participating in campaigns, influencing policies, and holding office. Next, we find a ‘veteran’ dimension capturing members that have held party or public office in the past. We also identify a ‘party ambassadors’ dimension in most surveys, covering party activities targeting voters and the public arena. The differences in member types do not change much. We find that the online ambassadors are on the rise, but that the balance between internal and outreach member activism is about the same over time.
OriginalsprogEngelsk
TitelNordic Party Members : Linkages in Troubled Times
RedaktørerMarie Demker, Knut Heidar, Karina Kosiara-Pedersen
Antal sider18
UdgivelsesstedLondon
ForlagRowman & Littlefield Publishers
Publikationsdato2019
Sider157-174
Kapitel8
ISBN (Trykt)9781785523250
ISBN (Elektronisk)9781785523267
StatusUdgivet - 2019

ID: 233653004