‘Let’s agree to disagree’: political disagreement with contact ties and non-electoral political participation

The majority of studies on political participation and behaviour have focused on individual socio-economic and demographic factors, such as educational levels, income, gender, and religious affiliation, among other variables. However, a growing body of research has shed light on the importance of social networks for political behaviour. Recent studies have also examined the possibility of political disagreements among close ties to encourage or discourage political participation and mobilization. This study sought to understand the role political disagreements play in political participation, especially among strong and weak social ties. This study employed data from the Canadian Election Survey of 2015. The study showed that respondents who disagreed with their close friends and co-workers on politics were more likely to be more politically active than respondents who did not disagree with any of their friends or co-workers. The study discusses the possible basis and implications of political disagreements with one’s ties and political participation.