Power to the people.Looking at the barriers and facilitators in the relation between perceived discrimination and political activism.

Abstract

This quantitative study investigates to what extent feelings of efficacy, social identity and system justification are barriers or facilitators towards the relation between perceived discrimination and political activism. Previous models on political activism illustrate relative deprivation, efficacy and social identity as predictors for political activism. On the other end, research shows system justification as a barrier in the relation of perceived discrimination on political activism. These factors were never combined in relation to perceived discrimination. This is important to investigate because activism is an effective way for marginalized groups to strive for social equality. To test the hypotheses, data from the Dutch sample of the European Social Survey round 9 was used (N=1673). Hierarchical linear regression was used to analyze the data. From the results can be concluded that perceiving discrimination and feelings of efficacy are positive predictors and system justification and social identity are negative predictors of engaging in political activism. Interaction-effects were not significant, meaning that no variables influences the relation between perceived discrimination and political activism. Additional analyses show that efficacy increases the likelihood to engage in political activism for people who feel discriminated against. Placement on the left-right scale, level of education, justice of the status quo and belonging to a religion are predictors to engage in political activism for people who do not feel discriminated against. To strive for equality, efficacy could be stimulated, for example by having more representative politicians in politics. Since this study shows that not only those who feel discriminated against engage in political activism, more research should be done on how to get allies for the group who feels discriminated against to strive for change.