Socialization or Self-Selection? Membership in Deliberative Associations and Political Attitudes

Abstract

Since de Tocqueville’s visit to the United States, it has become common knowledge that people in civic associations are more civic minded: They display higher levels of political interest, tolerance, and social and political trust. The question remains, however, whether young people are socialized through associations or self-select into associations. This article aims to untangle this relationship, using a representative panel of 16- and 18-year-old Belgian students by focusing on deliberative associations. The results show that both self-selection and socialization effects play a role with respect to political interest but not for other political attitudes and that long-lasting engagement and membership in multiple associations have the strongest socializing effect.