Det europeiska medborgarinitiativet, ECI - Resurser, motivation och EU-attityds påverkan på sannolikheten att vilja använda ECI

Abstract

The European Citizens’ Initiative, ECI, is a new tool of participatory democracy in the EU. In consideration of political equality, the purpose of this essay is to study how resources, motivation and EU-attitude affects the likelihood of using the ECI. Resources and motivation have in earlier studies turned out to have a significant effect on political participation. By analysing the data from the Eurobarometer 83.3 this study shows that resources in terms of education have a significant effect on the likelihood of using the ECI. A good household income turns out to have a weak negative effect on the likelihood of using the ECI. Motivation in terms of EU knowledge and political discussion about EU have a significant effect on the likelihood to use the ECI. A new aspect is included in this study, interaction with resources and motivation with EU-attitude. Studies of the European parliament elections show that positive EU attitude has a positive effect on the voter turnout. The result show that the same mechanisms also applies to ECI, the likelihood of using ECI and EU-knowledge is different depending on EU-attitude. In aspect of political equality, the ECI is a participatory democracy tool that is unequal among European citizens.