Trained for democracy: The differing effects of voluntary and involuntary organizations on political participation

This article examines the relationship between activity in non-political organizations and political participation. In their 1995 book, Voice and Equality, Verba, Schlozman, and Brady claim that, for a variety of reasons, activity in these non-political organizations has a positive effect on an individual's level of political participation. However, using empirical evidence, this study calls some of these findings into question by demonstrating that there are fundamental differences in the effects of workplace activity and similar activities undertaken in other non-political groups. Specifically, the results indicate that activity in more voluntary groups has the greatest effect on political participation, especially time-based and volunteer oriented activities. In several instances the effects of activity in these non-political organizations rival those of the classic SES variables.