Group Membership and the Mobilisation of Resource-Poor Voters

This chapter develops the theoretical argument about group membership, mobilisation and participation. Then, it tests them empirically to explain, in the first instance, why resource-poor voters are more likely to participate than their resource-rich counterparts. Drawing on several types of group membership such as voluntary associations/community groups, religious groups, professional/business groups and trade unions/farmers, the chapter first uncovers that social group organisations in Africa- religious, community, professional and trade union groups tend to boost participation substantially for their members compared to non-members. Second, the chapter examine whether group mobilisation is more substantial for resource-poor than resource-rich people. While the chapter provides evidence that group membership correlates with voting, it does not explain the higher turnout rates among the resource-poor. In particular, the chapter finds that group membership has no substantive differences across resource-poor and resource-rich voters. If anything, the chapter shows that if an individual is an active social group member, their participation is high regardless of socioeconomic status.