Participar o no participar: análisis tipológico de la participación ciudadana de los mexicanos

The lack of political participation is usually identified with apathy and disenchantment with democracy. However, little has been theorized and studied about the relationship between political participation and other forms of civic involvement, including the possibility that some citizens prefer to participate outside of or at the margins of institutional politics. In this study, we analyze different forms of political and community participation. We begin with the assumption that lack of participation in politics does not necessarily imply lack of citizen’s participation altogether. Based on survey data, we identify types based on different empirical patterns of participation in Mexico. The typological k-means analysis shows that at least four types of participation can be identified: conventional, apathetic, apolitical and hyperactive. Through a multinomial model we examine the bases of this typology.