More Participation, Happier Society? A Comparative Study of Civil Society and the Quality of Life
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| Title: | More Participation, Happier Society? A Comparative Study of Civil Society and the Quality of Life |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Wallace, Claire, Pichler, Florian |
| Source: | Social Indicators Research. Sep 2009 93(2):255-274. |
| Availability: | Springer. 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-348-4505; e-mail: service-ny@springer.com; Web site: http://www.springerlink.com |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 20 |
| Publication Date: | 2009 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Evaluative |
| Education Level: | Adult Education |
| Descriptors: | Individual Characteristics, Quality of Life, Comparative Analysis, Voluntary Agencies, Volunteers, Citizen Participation, Social Indicators, Well Being, Life Satisfaction, Psychological Patterns, National Surveys, Regional Characteristics, Foreign Countries |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s11205-008-9305-9 |
| ISSN: | 0303-8300 |
| Abstract: | A "good society" has recently been portrayed as one in which citizens engage in voluntary associations to foster democratic processes. Arguably, such a good society is considered as one where people are content with their own lives as well as public life. We consider whether participation in civil society leads to more satisfied individuals on the one hand and a better evaluation of society at a country level on the other. With data from the first round of the European Social Survey, we illustrate that participation in voluntary associations not only depends on individual characteristics, but that there is a clear country-level effect on civil society. This can be explained with measures of quality of society after socio-demographic determinants have been controlled for. Nonetheless, it remains difficult to say what comes first: a "good society" or a thriving civil society. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2009 |
| Accession Number: | EJ850271 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | A "good society" has recently been portrayed as one in which citizens engage in voluntary associations to foster democratic processes. Arguably, such a good society is considered as one where people are content with their own lives as well as public life. We consider whether participation in civil society leads to more satisfied individuals on the one hand and a better evaluation of society at a country level on the other. With data from the first round of the European Social Survey, we illustrate that participation in voluntary associations not only depends on individual characteristics, but that there is a clear country-level effect on civil society. This can be explained with measures of quality of society after socio-demographic determinants have been controlled for. Nonetheless, it remains difficult to say what comes first: a "good society" or a thriving civil society. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0303-8300 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s11205-008-9305-9 |
