GRASS-ROOTS PARTICIPATION IN THE NORDIC COUNTRIES

Despite the similarities between the Nordic countries with regard to s ocial and political structures, major differences in grass roots parti cipation are found. Participation is highest in Sweden and lowest in F inland, with Denmark, Norway and Iceland falling in between. There are also striking differences between the countries regarding the relatio nships between participation and factors as age, gender, education, so cial class and party choice. Two theories may help us to understand th ese differences. The first, mobilization theory, claims that grass roo t participation is used to mobilize new social groups. This theory is supported by evidence from Denmark, Norway and Iceland. During the 197 0s and the 1980s all three countries experienced political mobilizatio n of the well-educated. the new middle class and the women. The second theory, supplement theory, claims that grass root participation is no thing but an extension of the conventional modes of participation. Thi s theory is supported in Sweden. The last section of the paper argues that differences between countries may be explained by differences in the strength of traditional political organizations.