The impact of local associational life on citizens' attitudes towards local government

The question raised in this article concerns the impact of local associational life on citizens' attitudes towards local government. Our case is Norway. The empirical analysis reveals that citizens tend to be less approving of their local councillors where there is a high density of local voluntary associations. We conclude that a differentiated associational infrastructure provides a channel through which local decision makers can be held to account, and that a vibrant associational life brings about an environment where the public sphere is to some degree performing its role as scrutinisers of local authorities.