Why has political efficacy decrease since 1960?

Answer 1

I am judging from a dutch standpoint, I cannot answer for decreases in political efficacy in the United states or other European countries. my take would be that since the 1960 group identity in dutch society, and probably in other European societies has eroded. if you were a catholic, you had a catholic representative in parlement and you knew that your interests were defended. that group solidarity has eroded in two ways. firstly people no longer strongly identify themselves with groups, therefore it is harder to actually determine if the member of congres that represents a hundred thousand other "unique individuals" actually also defends your interests. furthermore politicans have detached from the idea of having one group as their constituency and generally campagne for a wider audience, making it even harder for citizens to determine which politicans defend their interests.

Because of this lack of ability to identify with politicians, effective political participation is moved from parlement to the bureaucracy. citizens who actually attempt to participate politically find that their efforts are outweight by the strengt of professional lobbying organisations and find that all the rules and regulations that make our countries functions are actually making it hard for them to effectively participate.

my five cents