Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book. The book sets out the findings that have emerged from a comparative study carried out in the South East of England. The fieldwork utilises a range of predominantly qualitative methodologies including semi-structured interviews, non-participant observation and documentary analysis. Using the author's data from approximately sixty interviews within the various political organisations, the book illustrates a range of experiences of political participation and presents a typology of the forms of political participation that take place within the political institutions. This typology helps the readers to understand the nature of 'activism' across the various organisations. The book then comments on the ideological and policy agendas of these organisations. The book further adopts the premise that the nature of political participation and political discourse are crucial indicators of the quality of contemporary democracy.