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

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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.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationNordic Party Members : Linkages in Troubled Times
EditorsMarie Demker, Knut Heidar, Karina Kosiara-Pedersen
Number of pages18
Place of PublicationLondon
PublisherRowman & Littlefield Publishers
Publication date2019
Pages157-174
Chapter8
ISBN (Print)9781785523250
ISBN (Electronic)9781785523267
Publication statusPublished - 2019

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