For decades, we have known that people affiliated with a major political party are more likely to vote, give money to candidates, and volunteer for campaigns than those with no party affiliation. In fact, being registered with a political party is considered one of the most reliable predictors of whether a person will vote. Political parties motivate political behavior by providing information, mobilizing members to act, and connecting people who share interests and ideologies.
However, the role of political parties on political behavior deserves a contemporary examination. In new research with colleagues Erin Arruda of the University of California and David Hopkins of Boston College, I argue that this association may not look the same for recent cohorts of youth (who are less likely to affiliate with a major political party than older cohorts), for different types of political behaviors (electoral versus non-electoral political actions), or over recent history (given historical changes in political engagement, citizenship norms, and the American party system). CONT.
Laura Wray-Lake (UCLA), LSE USAPP