Bringing Government Back into Civic Engagement: Considering the Role of Public Policy

Abstract

Analyses of the determinants of civic engagement give little heed to the role of government in citizens' lives. The nascent research in this area suggests that citizens' experiences of public programs can influence their rate of civic involvement and their attitudes about government. Features of policy design—the extent of resources bestowed on citizens, the messages conveyed through program rules and procedures, and the degree of visibility of government's role—may each influence the extent and form of program effects. Changes in public provision over time may help explain the rise and decline of civic engagement.