Social networks and civic and political participation in six European cities a quantitative study

Abstract

This study examines the relation between the size and composition of social networks of people and the degree of civic and political participation using survey data of the GEIT ONIES -project in six European cities (Lisbon, Bilbao, Thessaloniki, Vienna, Warsaw and Rotterdam). In like with Robert Putnam's findings, we expected respondents with larger social networks to participate more. We also expected that respondents with bridging social networks (in particular with more interethnic social contacts) to participate more. We found that network size is indeed related to participation in voluntary work, but not to political participation (voting). Interethnic contacts do not contribute to civic or political participation. On the contrary, people with more intra-ethnic contacts participate more in voluntary work.