ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to discuss how personal resources and context are shaping political participation in Switzerland. Political participation is measured here by means of several indicators: first, the degree of involvement in political parties; second, the use of direct democracy; third, the participation in non-conventional but still legal political actions; fourth, the participation in non-conventional and illegal political actions; fifth, general interest towards different levels of politics, and sixth and finally, people’s decisions to get politically involved or to engage in civic-organized or informal networks. These forms of political participation can be perceived as the consequence of individual – internal – resources, and environmental – external – constraints and opportunities.
