Original scientific paper
Civil Activism in Croatia
Renata FRANC
Vlado ŠAKIĆ
Jelena MARIČIĆ
Abstract
The paper investigates the possibility of distinguishing among
various dimensions of civil activism in Croatia and the extent
to which sociodemographic characteristics of citizens,
religiosity, political orientation, perceived efficiency, perceived
prominence of three types of local problems, membership in
associations and familiarity with the members of the
association enable the interpretation of the summative
measure of civil activism and participation of citizens in ten
particular types of behaviour. The research uses data
gathered in 2005 on a representative sample of Croatian
citizens. Based on research of the factor structure of the
measure of civil activism, it has been concluded that different
types of civil activism in Croatia cannot be distinguished at
present. Multivariate analyses have shown that only a
relatively small part of the variance of the overall and
individual measures of civil participation can be explained by
the analysed determinants. Among the analysed variables,
the relatively most useful and consistent determinants are
membership in an association and familiarity with the
members of the association. The perceived efficiency has
also been confirmed as an important determinant of the
general measure of civil participation in particular
behaviours, in contrast to religiosity and political orientation.
Sociodemographic features are generally correlated with civil
participation, but offer a relatively small contribution to
differentiating among those who take part or do not take
part in particular behaviours.
Keywords
dimensions of civil activism; determinants of civil activism; perceived efficiency; membership in associations
Hrčak ID:
18923
URI
Publication date:
30.4.2007.
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