‘Theories of Political Activism The fest ask to see whether dere hat been 2 systematic weakening of thechannels of eleva act and civic activism. The second ist examine the most plawsble explanations to secouat both for differences among ratios ae for tends over tne. The most common exlation ot lon {erm developments in politcal participation comes fm moderation cores advanced by Davil Bey Rona lglehant, and Russell Dalton ‘Eecbof living be growth ofthe serie seco and expanding educational opporenities have sept trough posindustial societies, contbuting spew ne of ctzen plies in Westen democracies! This procs ialeved to have inteased demands fr more seve public particpation i the policymaking prowess thraugh direc action, new socal movement, snd protest group while wedkeing defen loyales and support tea hal organizations snd authorities och ax churches, partes, and tadinal interes groups By contrast, stotonal acconnts rphasz the way in which the suc tuce ofthe state sete epportnises for partpation, exemple i eB tmets by Powell and by Jacian that eesoral as, party systems, and ‘ctonal remem ep explain dilferencesin voting turnout among sitions! Treas m parecipaton can ao Be accounted for by changes in the rues of the gue such asthe expansion Of the fanchise and reforms Incampuign spending laws. Agony theory, exempied by Roserstone and Fizsen,’ fous on the rae of tradional mobilizing organizations in ey notably the ways a which pls pares, rae mons and fnplaning the ole of soil capil lo fallen hs category Lastly, the civic volumes i, developed by Verbs and his colleagues, Emphasize the role of socal inequalities in resources such a5 educational Sills and secoeconomi stata, and rotational factors suchas plia Sima | SF = | ogenteaton | | sevcturect | | motiting ye | rouns 2 Ths ame ‘Theories of Politi! Action t metropolitan conurbations ‘sumerscy with the spread of1 The weakening ofthe Bonds connecting te panera of maeage and divorce, roc of secalacztion weakening rigius tes,