Knowra Political efficacy Political efficacy Political efficacy is a person’s belief that they can understand politics and influence political affairs. It includes confidence in one’s own capacity and beliefs about government responsiveness.
Internal political efficacy : Belief in one’s own ability to understand politics and participate effectively. This is the self-confidence dimension of political efficacy.
Civic voluntarism model : A model explaining political participation through resources, psychological engagement, and recruitment. It places efficacy among the forms of psychological engagement that help explain participation.
Voter turnout : The proportion of eligible voters who cast ballots in an election. Political efficacy is one belief associated with whether people choose to vote.
Angus Campbell : An American political scientist known for research on voting behavior and public opinion. Campbell and colleagues helped establish political efficacy as a measurable attitude in electoral research.
Political inequality : Unequal distribution of political influence, participation, or representation among people and groups. Unequal efficacy can contribute to unequal participation, while political inequality can reinforce low efficacy.
External political efficacy : Belief that political institutions and officials respond to citizens’ concerns. This is the responsiveness dimension of political efficacy.
Political engagement : A person’s attention, interest, and involvement in political life. Efficacy can make political issues feel accessible enough to engage with.
Political efficacy gap : A difference between groups in confidence about political understanding or influence. Comparing efficacy across social groups reveals unequal perceived access to political influence.
The American Voter : A 1960 study of American voting behavior by Angus Campbell, Philip E. Converse, Warren E. Miller, and Donald E. Stokes. The study’s account of beliefs about political influence shaped later measurement of efficacy.
Democratic legitimacy : The extent to which people accept democratic institutions and their authority as rightful. Widespread beliefs that citizens cannot influence government can weaken acceptance of democratic institutions.
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