Skepticism and polarization: political determinants of non-participation in participatory institutions

Abstract Participatory institutions have been created in contemporary democracies to encourage the participation of citizens in discussions and the formulation and oversight of public policies. However, studies have indicated difficulties related to the inclusion of certain social groups, even in established institutions. What explains non-participation in institutions that aim to broaden its scope? In addition to the lack of personal incentives and the costs associated with participation, we argue that two other political determinants contribute to this absence: skepticism and polarization. Our findings indicate that skepticism is associated with non-participation but is contingent on the context, while affective polarization is significantly related to non-participation in participatory institutions.