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Trade Unions and Political Participation in the European Union: Still Providing a Democratic Dividend?

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  • Daryl D’Art
  • Thomas Turner

Abstract

Decline in electoral participation is a feature of many Western democracies. In this paper, we focus on the relationship between trade union membership and political participation. Workplace authority structures, trade union membership and union presence have been identified as important influences on electoral participation. Based on a survey of employees in 15 member states of the European Union, we test for a relationship between political participation, union membership and union workplace presence. The independent effect of trade union membership on political participation was found to be both significant and positive and is associated with higher levels of political activism and electoral participation. Furthermore, an institutional context that facilitates high levels of union density seems likely to have an overall positive effect on citizen participation.

Suggested Citation

  • Daryl D’Art & Thomas Turner, 2007. "Trade Unions and Political Participation in the European Union: Still Providing a Democratic Dividend?," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 45(1), pages 103-126, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:brjirl:v:45:y:2007:i:1:p:103-126
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8543.2007.00604.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Towers, Brian, 1997. "The Representation Gap: Change and Reform in the British and American Workplace," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780198289463.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jirjahn, Uwe & Le, Thi Xuan Thu, 2023. "Works Councils and Workers' Party Preferences in Germany," IZA Discussion Papers 15879, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Uwe Jirjahn & Thi Xuan Thu Le, 2024. "Political spillovers of workplace democracy in Germany," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 95(1), pages 5-31, March.
    3. Christian Pfeifer, 2023. "Can worker codetermination stabilize democracies? Works councils and satisfaction with democracy in Germany," Working Paper Series in Economics 420, University of Lüneburg, Institute of Economics.
    4. John W. Budd & J. Ryan Lamare, 2021. "The Importance of Political Systems for Trade Union Membership, Coverage and Influence: Theory and Comparative Evidence," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 59(3), pages 757-787, September.
    5. Bilal Hassan, 2024. "Workplace democracy and democratic legitimacy in Europe," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 45(2), pages 389-414, May.
    6. Sinisa Hadziabdic & Lucio Baccaro, 2020. "A Switch or a Process? Disentangling the Effects of Union Membership on Political Attitudes in Switzerland and the UK," Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 59(3), pages 466-499, July.
    7. Ali İhsan BALCI & Mehmet GÜLER, 2019. "Avrupa İşçi Sendikaları Konfederasyonunun (ETUC) Küreselleşme Bağlamında Değerlendirilmesi," Journal of Social Policy Conferences, Istanbul University, Faculty of Economics, vol. 0(77), pages 383-420, December.
    8. Lorraine Ryan & Thomas Turner, 2021. "Does work socialisation matter? Worker engagement in political activities, attachment to democracy and openness to immigration," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 52(2), pages 125-144, March.
    9. Nemčok, Miroslav & Bosancianu, Constantin Manuel & Leshchenko, Olga & Kluknavská, Alena, 2022. "Softening the corrective effect of populism: populist parties’ impact on political interest," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, issue Latest Ar, pages 1-28.
    10. Budd, John W. & Lamare, J. Ryan, 2021. "The importance of political systems for trade union membership, coverage and influence: theory and comparative evidence," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 125307, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    11. John Godard, 2007. "Is Good Work Good for Democracy? Work, Change at Work and Political Participation in Canada and England," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 45(4), pages 760-790, December.

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