Testing Milbrath's 1965 Framework of Political Participation: Institutions and Social Capital

Despite its age, Milbrath’s 1965 framework of political participation is stillwidely cited. A computer simulation is used to empirically test the frameworkfor the first time. The parameter estimates from the simulation provide validresults, suggesting that the framework may be viable. The simulation is thenused to explore the nature of political participation. It is found that bothpolitical institutions and social capital are significant contributors to politicalparticipation. The role of social capital is revised: rather than just the timespent in a community, personal contacts appear to be more important forpolitical participation.