Political Efficacy

A fundamental question asked in early survey-based political communication research is whether people feel that their political actions can affect political processes. Research has consistently shown the centrality of this political attitude, known as “political efficacy,” for democratic functioning. In recent research, political communication scholars have asked whether the rise of digital media may transform the public’s sense of political efficacy for good (due to improved information access and interactive possibilities with decision-makers) or for ill (due to information overload and a globalized sense of powerlessness). The best available cross-national evidence to date indicates, however, that digital media use and political efficacy are positively associated, and that political efficacy has a similar positive relationship with online and offline political participation. Next-step research is needed to clarify more nuanced contextual effects, particularly for lower-status individuals who tend to have lower levels of political efficacy.