Social environment: civic participation

Civic participation is a commonly used component of 'social capital' (or social cohesion/connectedness/support). This can be measured in a number of ways, for example by examining the extent to which people feel they are able to influence decisions in their local area. Chart 1, taken from Scottish Household Survey data, shows that in 2018 just one in five Scottish adults felt they could influence local decisions (a proportion that has changed very little in the past 10 years). However, this figure varied enormously across local authority areas, from around 11% in the Western Isles to 34% in East Lothian.

One of the main ways that people can create change in their area is through voting. Chart 2 shows - by constituency - the voter turnout for the 2021 Scottish Parliamentary elections. Overall in Scotland, just under two thirds (63%) of the electorate voted – this was up from 56% in 2016. Relatively deprived areas in Glasgow had the lowest percentage turnouts (between 51% and 54%), while the highest turnout was in the more affluent council areas of East Dunbartonshire (Strathkelvin and Bearsden: 72%) and East Renfrewshire (Eastwood: 76%).

As is well known, however, the 2014 referendum on Scottish independence resulted in a much higher voter turnout (reflecting, many would argue, high levels of participation in the debate): this can be seen in Chart 3 which shows that the overall turnout was 85%, and although Glasgow had the lowest turnout, it was still a relatively high 75%.

Finally, Chart 4 shows long-term trends in voter turnout in Scotland as a whole, this time for UK (Westminster) Parliamentary elections. This shows a general downward trend from the post-war elections (c.80%) to the late 1990s (c. 70%) and, especially, 2001 (58%), followed by increases in 2010 and 2015. Although turnout fell again in 2017 (to 66%), it increased slightly in 2019 (to 68%): Scotland was the only country in the UK where turnout increased, rather than fell, in that election.