Group Membership and the Mobilization of Political Participation

Abstract

This article addresses two questions relating to how groups mobilize members to participate in politics. First, does group mobilization result from the intentional efforts of group leaders or instead unintentionally, from the interaction of group leaders and members in routine internal group activities? Second, how do individuals' incentives for group membership influence each type of mobilization? Data used are taken from a national study of voluntary associations and random samples of their memberships. The analysis indicates that unintentional mobilization occurs in both political and nonpolitical groups and is unconstrained by individuals' incentives for group membership. The effects of intentional mobilization, however, are basically restricted to political groups and members with lobbying, normative, or occupational incentives.