Authors: Duhamel & Mény
Summary: The author introduces this 1200 word -lenght entry explaining the reasons which led him to deal with political participation as electoral participation: it was the idea of putting its definition between the democratic ideal (citizens participation everywhere and at any time) and the regulated participation reality of contemporary western democracies. From this point of view it can be argued that political participation concerns minorities (e.g. associations or political parties), whereas is the electoral participation the most widespread behaviour. Hence the author, instead of giving a definition of the concept, analyzes vote and vote behaviour in comparative perspective. From his point of view the elections represent a way of limiting and regulating frequence, extension and intensity of citizens participation, whereas non-participation, i.e. electoral abstension, is explained through social and ideological factors (e.g. cleavages) and through effects due to political supply and to particular historical conditions.