Lärande i partipolitiskt engagemang

En praktikteoretisk analys av lärande bland socialdemokratiska partimedlemmar

Abstract

Learning in Political Engagement. A Practice Theoretical Analysis of Social Democratic Party Members’ Learning in Political Practices. This article aims to study learning as part of Social Democratic party-political member engagement. Political parties have recently been described as increasingly professional organisations focused on strategic management and winning elections, rather than member engagement and acquiring ideological support. This development may limit party members’ roles and influence within the party organisation, which might be reflected in how they perceive their conditions as members. This study focuses on how members of Finland’s Social Democratic Party have learned to be involved in party-political practices and developed in their political engagement as part of party-political practices. The results reveal how the interviewees become embedded in party-political structures through dialogues, by helping others, making themselves available and creating networks. Efforts to develop as party members are intertwined with political engagement through self-studying and discussing with other party members, balancing diversity and achieving consensus.