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Political Engagement

Definition

Political engagement refers to the actions taken by individuals to influence public policy and decision making. This can include voting, attending political rallies, joining a political party, or even engaging in peaceful protests.

Analogy

Think of political engagement like being a fan of a sports team. You're not just watching the games (elections), but you're also wearing the team's jersey (showing your party affiliation), discussing strategies (policies) with other fans, and maybe even traveling to away games (attending rallies or protests).

Related terms

Civic Participation: The involvement of citizens in community life and affairs, which can range from individual volunteerism to organizational involvement to electoral participation.

Political Activism: The practice of vigorous action or involvement as a means of achieving political goals, sometimes by using non-traditional methods.

Grassroots Movement: A movement that develops organically at a local level, driven by the constituents of a community rallying for change on an issue.