Democratic Participation and Political Communication in Systems of Multi-level Governance - PART-COM-MULTILEVEL

Tackling the problem of the involvement of European citizens in shaping their future, the project analyses electoral participation and abstention in systems of multi-level governance, using three research strategies, each implemented at the leading edge of methodology: survey research; aggregate-data analysis; communication research. The support of the Commission and the EP for the insertion of questions in the Euro barometer of autumn 1999 for the project has been obtained. Project phases are; theoretical and methodological development; aggregate, individual and contextual data preparation; analysis and interpretation; and preparation on final reports. The results will have a major impact on our theoretical understanding and methodological approach to the problem; on database access and standards; and on policy. The latter will be achieved by close liaison with a user group and via a final policy report.