University of Glasgow – Study on Social Participation in Politics

According to one study, it is clearly not dependent on voters that people with physical or mental disabilities are underestimated in politics.

A researcher from Scottish University in Glasgow interviewed 1,500 people in the UK. Participants were asked to rate two fictitious politicians as voters. Among other things, their gender, age and occupation were mentioned and how long they had been active in political and offices. One of the two was either blind, deaf, or paralyzed below the waist.

In comparison, it emerged that participants rated candidates with disabilities as qualified only, but more warmly and more conscientiously. They also considered her to be more committed to issues such as health care, minority rights and social affairs. This leads the researcher to conclude that if there are relatively few people with disabilities in politics, it is not because of voters, but because of the lack of support from political parties.

Live around the world Over one billion people With a physical or mental weakness. The researcher published his study in the journal Expert Frontiers in Political Science be released.

This message was broadcast on the Deutschlandfunk Nova program on January 29, 2021.