Leiden University Student Repository

Klaver, R. (Rosanne) (2012)

Offline and Online Activity: Effects on Political Tolerance Attitudes

Bachelor thesis | Politicologie (BSc)

According to the literature on social capital, associations are important sites where individuals learn democratic values such as political tolerance. Over the past decades, traditional associations in Western democracies have seen their memberships decline. In addition, people spend more time online, resulting in fears that people may become detached and less politically tolerant. This study examines if offline and online activity reinforce one another, that is, if individuals who are active both online and offline show higher levels of political tolerance. There is a positive relationship between the two variables, although the findings are not significant.

Political tolerance

Political participation

Associational activity

Author

Klaver, R. (Rosanne)

Faculty

Faculty of Social & Behavioural Sciences

Supervisors

Tromble, R.K.

ECTS Credits

15

Language

en