Green Democracy : Political Participation and Environmental Protection

The relationship between democracy and environmental protection is complex. Previous research has indicated that democracy's effects on environmental proection are quite mixed. These studies have tended to focus on the overall characterization of the political system and not on the overall level of political partiipation within it. In this paper, I will examine the linkages between political participation and environmental protection, arguing that a consistently mobilized citizenry will result in increased success in protecting the environment