Civic Engagement : Perspectives, Roles and Impacts

Civic engagement refers to participating in activities which make a difference in the civic life of citizens in communities. These activities are meant to promote the quality of life in a community, either through participation in any activity or event that involves political subject matter, or through non-political involvement in community associations such as clubs, religious bodies, work organizations and unions, and informal happenings such as sports leagues. Research on civic engagement and its causes can be divided into two broad categories, either the individual-level explanations that emphasize the social psychological and economic factors that affect individual attitudes and behaviors, or the structure-level explanations that place emphasis on macro structures such as societal values, norms and material forces. This book reviews several perspectives on civic engagement, as well as its roles and impacts in society.