Duration of the project: 2 years

1. Civic Participation in a transforming Society: Motivational Forces, social Capital and Trust Institute for Policy Studies Duration of the project: 2 years

2. Research Team • Nana Sumbadze - Principal investigator PHD in Social Sciences • Anastasia Kitiashvili – Senior researcher PHD in Psychology • NatiaUbilava – Junior researcher - MS student in social psychology Institute for policy studies

3. Aim of the project • To identify the motivation for joining voluntary organizations To study: • The perceived benefits of group membership • Causes that hinder citizen’s participation in public life • Ways to increase participation Institute for policy studies

4. Methodology The study has two phases, qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative phase studies: • Perceptions of persons who are involved and of those not involved in voluntary organizations of participation by focus group discussions Quantitative phase studies: • Motives, benefits of participation, level of control and belonging motivations and social networks of members and non- members of voluntary organizations will be studied by survey instrument containing designed for the study questions, standard scales and questions referring to ego-networks The study is carried out on members of the two types of organizations: • Associations with a distinct instrumental function, such as political parties and professional associations; • Associations with a distinct expressive function, such as congregation and fan clubs.

5. Expected Results Results of the study: • Will bring insight in the established world-wide negative association of generalized trust with membership of voluntary associations in post-communist countries • Will point to the leading motives for engagement in different types of associations • Will provide an answer to socialization effect of membership on generalized trust • Will provide a picture of important relationships and their connectivity, level of inclusion of association members in personal social milieu Institute for policy studies

6. Focus Group Discussion Participants 8 focus group discussions involving 70 persons were held with members of: • Political parties • Trade Unions • Professional organizations • Fan clubs • Congregations Students and citizens not involved in voluntary organizations Institute for policy studies

7. Discussion Topics • Motivation for joining associations • Benefits of membership • Most common activities • Reasons hindering citizen’s involvement in associations • Ways of increasing participation Institute for policy studies

8. Motivation for joining Associations (1) Oriented at others/society oriented • Achieving goals • Bringing change • Good leader • Feeling of effectiveness of one’s involvement, belief that it is necessary and will yield results Oriented at inner/self • Need of self-realization • Feeling of dissatisfaction/ emptiness • Feeling of helplessness • Interest • Need of others in pursuing own interests Institute for policy studies

9. Motivation for joining Associations (2) Instrumental • Need to fill in the time • Getting support • Obtaining protection • Obtaining material benefits • Career advances • Getting power • Access to information • Access to privileges • Need of others in pursuing own interests Institute for policy studies

10. Benefits of membership (1) Associated with the society • Bringing change • Be listened and one’s opinion be considered • Increase sensitivity to the cause of organization • Possibility to achieve the goal • Shrinkage of state power system Institute for policy studies

11. Benefits of membership (2) Associated with the self • Learning and getting new experience • Obtaining protection • Prestige • Advances in career • Self-growth and Self-realization • Increase of self-esteem • Feeling of belonging • Making contacts • Pleasure and sharing • Relaxation and peace of mind • Pride • Satisfaction of the need in public activity Institute for policy studies

12. Reasons hindering citizen’s involvement in associations Associated with the society/others • Mistrust in leader • Socio-economic conditions in the country • Disregard of citizens by authorities and fear of authorities • Lack of feeling of citizenship/ownership of the country • Lack of solidarity in a society • Lack of tradition of participation • Lack of offers to become a member and restricted choice for participation • Restriction of free expression of opinions • Not seeing benefits of membership • Scarcity of information Associated with the self • Lack of time • Unwillingness to take responsibility • Not seeing effectiveness of own activities • Satisfied, through friendship networks social needs • Lack of initiative and nihilism Institute for policy studies

13. Ways of increasing participation • Education • Teaching tools for participation • Informing • Effective leadership • Involvement of youth • Building trust in others • Building feeling of ownership/citizenship • Achieving small results and publicizing them • Promoting participation • Supporting free expression of opinion by authorities • Creating variety of organizations • Creating organizations with concrete goals and ways of achieving them • Ensuring the spirit of respect to others and tolerance to different opinion • Ensuring the stability of organizations Institute for policy studies