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Social Capital and Political Participation of Canadians

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 December 2008

M. Reza Nakhaie
M. Reza Nakhaie*
Affiliation:
University of Windsor
*
M. Reza Nakhaie, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset, Windsor, Ontario, CanadaN9B 3P4nakhaie@uwindsor.ca
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Abstract

Abstract. This paper evaluates the importance of social capital for political participation of native-born Canadians and immigrants. The Survey of Social Engagement in Canada, a large survey of Canadians conducted by Statistics Canada in 2003, is used in order to test the role of social relations and connections in accounting for political participation. Analyses show that although the “usual suspects” play important roles in explaining political activities, the main culprit is social capital. Among social capital measures, though all are important, associational involvement and social networks, followed by trust and volunteering, are the best predictors of political participation. Moreover, the effect of social capital varies by period of immigration. Theoretical and policy implications of findings are discussed.

Résumé. Cet article évalue l'importance du capital social pour la participation politique des Canadiens de naissance et des immigrés. L'Enquête sociale générale, cycle 17 : L'Engagement social, une grande enquête menée par Statistique Canada en 2003, sert de toile de fond pour estimer le rôle des rapports et liens sociaux dans la participation politique. Les analyses montrent que, bien que d'autres facteurs connus jouent un rôle dans le choix d'activités politiques, le plus important est le capital social. Parmi les mesures de ce facteur, qui sont toutes importantes, l'activité au sein d'une association et les réseaux sociaux, suivis de la confiance et du travail bénévole, sont les meilleurs prédicteurs de la participation politique. Suit une discussion des conséquences théoriques de ces résultats et de leur incidence sur la politique générale.

Type
Research Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Political Science/Revue canadienne de science politique , Volume 41 , Issue 4 , December 2008 , pp. 835 - 860
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Political Science Association 2008

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