Participation is a state of mind as much as a practice. It's a social activity in the sense that it's a shared experience. A person going for a walk in the morning is not doing anything. Someone who is running the 100 meter dash living in a neighborhood for an extended period of time without being acquainted with any of the residents is indicative of a nonparticipant mentality. What does it mean to participate in politics? Of course, we're referring about a specific type of political activity or attitude. There is a consensus among political scientists that more participation in the political process is beneficial and necessary, and this has been widely publicized since the 1950s. However, this seeming consensus masks deep divisions in political thought and practice. To begin, let's talk about what it means to be politically active in the first place.
Key words: Political Process, Participation, party system
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