Signs of political discontent are increasingly common in many Western nations, with anti-establishment parties and candidates drawing significant attention and support across the European Union and in the United States. Meanwhile, as previous Pew Research Center surveys have shown, in emerging and developing economies there is widespread dissatisfaction with the way the political system is working.
As a new nine-country Pew Research Center survey on the strengths and limitations of civic engagement illustrates, there is a common perception that government is run for the benefit of the few, rather than the many in both emerging democracies and more mature democracies that have faced economic challenges in recent years. In eight of nine nations surveyed, more than half say government is run for the benefit of only a few groups in society, not for all people.1
However, this skeptical outlook on government does not mean people have given up on democracy or the ability of average citizens to have an impact on […]
I have an efax account and a list of fax numbers that includes all the leaders in Congress. I send out about 500 faxes a month to a list of almost 800 fax numbers. This certainly counts more than my vote. We are in a highly charged emotional environment and any communication one puts out has more effect than in more relaxed times.