Exploration of Class and Political Behavior in Croatia

Abstract

In Western European countries, studies on the relationship between class position and political outlooks so far have a limited understanding of the relevance of class analysis, while in semiperipheral countries, like Croatia, research on class-related mechanisms and political behavior is modest, with a clear deficit of empirical research. The main goal of class analysis is to have the potential to explain various life outcomes primarily through explaining and exploring relationships between class position and life chances. In this article, we have employed neo-Weberian class analysis with the purpose to explore the relationship between class position and political behavior. In the article we use the concept of political behavior as a broader term that consists of individuals’ interest in politics, political efficacy, and political participation (voter turnout). We have used the data from the International Social Survey Program module Role of Government V from 2016. Analysis has shown that in Croatia, class membership is a predictor of interest in politics and political efficacy, i.e., that the members of a higher class show greater interest in politics and assess that they have a better understanding of politics. Class per se does not have a direct effect on voter turnout, but it is mediated through political efficacy and interest in politics since voting is mostly under the influence of personal interest in politics.

Keywords:

• Neo-Weberian class analysis
• political behavior
• political efficacy
• political participation
• Croatia

Notes

Notes

1 ISSP Research Group (2018): International Social Survey Programme: Role of Government V - ISSP 2016. GESIS Data Archive, Cologne. ZA6900 Data file Version 2.0.0, doi:10.4232/1.13052.

2 ISCO classification is also used in ISSP modules as part of standard code for background occupation variable.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Branko Ančić

Branko Ančić is an Associate Professor of Sociology with a focus on environmental sociology, sociology of health, and sociology of religion. His recent publications include “Complementarity Between the EJ Movement and Degrowth on the European Semiperiphery: An Empirical Study” coauthored with Mladen Domazet (Ecological Economics, 2019), “Exploring Health Impacts of Living in Energy Poverty: Case Study Sisak-Moslavina County, Croatia” coauthored with Slavica Robić (Energy and Buildings, 2018), and “How Far for the Money? Affluence and Democratic Degrowth Potential in Europe” coauthored with Mladen Domazet in A. Telesiene and M. Groß’s Green European (Routledge, 2016).

Nikola Baketa

Nikola Baketa is a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute for Social Research in Zagreb and his research interests are education policy, youth political literacy, and civic education. His recent publications include “Education Policy in Croatia” coauthored with Tihomir Žiljak in Z. Petak and K. Kotarski’s Policy-Making at the European Periphery—The Case of Croatia (Palgrave Macmillan, 2019), “Quality Assurance Policy Change at the University Level in Croatia From 2001 Until 2013” (Politička misao, 2019), and “Political Knowledge of Senior High School Students and Significance of its Determinants” coauthored with Anja Gvozdanović and Bojana Ćulum (IDIZ, GONG, 2016).

Marko Kovačić

Marko Kovačić is a researcher in the field of political sociology and public policy employed at the Institute for Social Research in Zagreb. His research interests focus on youth participation, youth work, radicalization of young people, and civic education. His recent publications include a book chapter, “Youth Participation in Eastern Europe in the Age of Austerity” in Young People Re-generating Politics in Times of Crisis (Palgrave MacMillan, 2018), coauthored with D. Dolenec; “Being Mainstream, Being Radical: How Do Young People Understand Radicalism in Croatia. Šolsko polje” (Solsko polje, 2018), coauthored with K. Bovan and M. Vuckovic; “Civil Society Going Political: The Crisis of Democracy and the Rise of Participatory Political Parties in Croatia,” coauthored with D. Cepic (Contemporary Southeastern Europe, 2015) and books: Process of Reconciliation in the Western Balkans and Turkey: A Qualitative Study co-authored with M. Adamovic and A. Gvozdanovic (IDIZ, Compex 2017) and From Subjects to Citizens–Development of Youth Political Competence, co-edited with M. Horvat (IDIZ, GONG, 2016).