Civic Participation in America

This book argues that the declining nature of traditional forms of civic participation over the last half century are the result of the evolution of larger institutional, social, and historical forces that have favored the self-interest motivation at the expense of civic duty

"A healthy democracy requires the fullest possible participation by citizens and just about everyone would agree Americans are not as involved as they should be. Quentin Kidd hopes to change that by analyzing the reasons why people choose to become active or stay passive. Kidd draws broadly on the American experience to paint a detailed picture of the history and reality of civic participation, an essential preface to successful attempts at change." Larry J. Sabato, director, University of Virginia Center for Politics, USA "Kidd provides an unparalleled description of the evolution of institutions of civic engagement and a thought-provoking analysis of the changing motivations for political participation. Through an informative historical examination of US institutions, Civic Participation in America contextualizes Americans' citizenship and constitutes an important contribution to the literature of civic engagement." Brigid Callahan Harrison, Professor of Political Science and Law, Montclair State University, USA

Quentin Kidd is Professor and Chair of the Department of Government and Director of the Wason Center for Public Policy at Christopher Newport University