ABSTRACT
In a well-known comparative political participation study, Verba, Nie, and Kim (1978) stress that political participation and equality of opportunity to participate is important for a well-functioning democracy. Liberal democracy requires both citizen participation and the acceptance of the participation of others. It is important to note that the latter implies an acceptance of the right of every party to speak out, including disliked minorities. Then intolerance of another’s participation sets a double standard for democratic practice (Sullivan, Piereson, and Marcus 1982). Unless both of these basic requirements-political participation and tolerance-are fulfi lled, trust in democratic institutions, such as the government and political parties, will lose its liberal democratic value.
