CIVIC AND POLITICAL PARTICIPATION IN TRANSITION COUNTRIES: THE CASE OF SERBIA

The purpose of this paper is to explore the dynamics of civic participation in Serbia, as well as to test its relevance for the level of citizens’ political involvement. For estimating the impact of the membership in civic associations on political party membership and non-conventional types of political activism, the non-parametric analyses of variance test, followed by post hoc testing has been employed. The main findings of the analysis suggest that civic participation is a significant predictor of political activism of Serbian citizens. The results of the empirical procedures indicate significant differences in the degree of political participation, based on the levels of citizens’ engagement in community organizations. The implications of the study could serve as the grounds for designing policies aimed at strengthening civic society and creating incentives for citizens’ active involvement in political life