Abstract:
This paper analyses the possible determinants of a sense of belonging and satisfaction with democracy. The results of this analysis can be used to fight the recent decline in democracy in Europe. The possible determinants are analysed in an ordinary least squares model, a multilevel model, an ordered logit model and a multilevel ordered logit model. The results indicate that people who are satisfied with the economic conditions in their country, people who often visit their family, friends or colleagues and people who often visit religious services are more likely to have a sense of belonging and are more likely to be satisfied with the functioning of democracy in their country. People who have participated in a demonstration are found to have a lower sense of belonging and to be less satisfied with democracy compared to people who did not demonstrate. Whereas country-level variables like the institutional quality and gross domestic product do seem to matter for satisfaction with democracy, they are less relevant for a sense of belonging.
