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Draws on questionnaire data from 356 residents of Galicia, Spain, ages 18-23, to investigate the determinants of political participation, integrating social & individual variables in the analysis of both the decision to participate & the type of political action taken. The differential contributions of the variables in different types of actions were tested through discriminatory analysis, using a hypothetical mobilization to increase state funds to create more jobs for youth as the motive. Results indicate that, rather than self-interest, it is the stated goal -- interest in politics as well as influence of peers -- that determines active participation. In addition, consciousness, attitudes toward change, & level of alienation play a crucial role in actions that reflect greater commitment. 2 Tables, 37 References. Adapted from the source document.

This paper analyzes the influence of different variables connected with group identity & efficacy in political protest. Our results underline efficacy as the variable that is the most relevant & has the greatest predictive capacity. Parallel to this, involvement with the group, expressed as voluntary membership in an organization, is the only one of the three measurements of identity that has an explanatory function, although its contribution is quite modest. 3 Tables, 21 References. Adapted from the source document.

In this article, we assume an interdisciplinary approach to the study of why and how people transpose political considerations to their lifestyles. Our aims are threefold: to understand the meanings and perceptions of people engaged in lifestyle politics and collective action; to examine the motives guiding individual change; and to explore the linkage processes between lifestyle politics and collective action. Identity process theory is considered as a lens to examine the processes and the motives of identity via a thematic analysis of 22 interviews. This study combined interviews with people seeking social change through their lifestyles with interviews with members of action groups and social movements. We found that each participant's identity is guided by identity motives such as distinctiveness, continuity, and psychological coherence. Besides, lifestyle politics is evaluated as an effective way to bring about social change, depending on the individual experience of perceived power to bring about change through collective action. Overall, lifestyle politics states the way in which the participants decided to live, to construct their identities, and to represent their beliefs about the right thing to do. Lifestyle politics complements collective action as a strategy to increase the potential of bringing about social change. The implications of this research are discussed in relation to the importance of understanding the processes of identity and lifestyle change in the context of social, environmental, and political change. ; info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersion

Judgments of political concepts in countries with different levels of democracy & advanced states of market economy are compared with those derived from survey data from 50 Hungarian, 50 Slovenian, 48 Slovakian, 41 Murcian (Spanish), 22 Galician (Spanish), & 40 Swedish students. Political concepts -- eg, democracy, inflation, & European market integration -- were evaluated with 8 7-point bipolar adjectival scales, presented under 6 different orientations. Cross-cultural differences in judgments were factor analyzed for Murcia vs Galicia, & for Spain vs other countries. The Murcian students evaluated the political & economic situation of Spain much more pessimistically than the Galicians did, & students of both regions projected these opinions of Spain onto the other countries. Spanish vs other European students differed on many evaluations. 7 Tables, 5 Figures, 4 References. Adapted from the source document.