What Kind of Communities Facilitate Civic Participation?

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  • HIRAMATSU Makoto
  • MITANI Haruyo
    Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University Research Fellow of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Faculty of Sociology, Ryukoku University

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Other Title
  • 市民参加を活発化させる地域とは
  • 市民参加を活発化させる地域とは : マルチレベル分析を用いた地域特性の効果の検討
  • シミン サンカ オ カッパツカ サセル チイキ トワ : マルチレベル ブンセキ オ モチイタ チイキ トクセイ ノ コウカ ノ ケントウ
  • ――A Multilevel Analysis of the Characteristics of Communities――
  • ――マルチレベル分析を用いた地域特性の効果の検討――

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<p>The aim of this study is to explore what kind of community characteristics facilitate civic participation. Previous studies show that civic participation is influenced by the characteristics of communities. In particular, many studies in the West have revealed that civic participation is determined by homogeneity, residential stability, and urbanism of communities. However, recent research on civic participation in Japan has not considered community attributes besides urbanism. Therefore, this paper examines the relationship between civic participation and the characteristics of communities, based on a multilevel analysis, using nationally representative data of Japanese citizens. And, we use the following approaches. First, we focus on homogeneity and residential stability of communities. Second, we focus on urbanism, aging rate of population, and industry structure of communities which are representative indexes in Japanese regional society.The main findings of this study are as follows. (1) In rural communities, networking with assembly members, civic movements and volunteerism occur at a more substantial level. (2) In communities where the number of people working in primary industries is high, the occurrence of networking with assembly members and civic movements is enhanced. (3) In communities with an advanced aging population, civic movements and volunteerism are facilitated. (4) In communities with an advanced aging population, highly educated people tend to participate in civic movements. These results show that, besides urbanism, aging rate of the population and primary industry rate also determine civic participation. This study suggests that people living in communities with an aging population and predominantly primary industries (agriculture, forestry, or fishery) tend to do civic participation because they face common problems and requirements in communities.</p>

Journal

  • SOSHIOROJI

    SOSHIOROJI 62 (2), 59-76, 2017-10-01

    SHAKAIGAKU KENKYUKAI

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