Civic Engagement in Europe?

A Vienna, Austria based conference on civic engagement took place in April 2008 to address the impacts on and effects of civic engagement and country specific aspects of participation.

A study, "Civil Society and the Quality of Life in Europe" addressed whether participation improves quality of life and how participation differs by country. The study concluded that some groups seemed to be excluded, including youth and retirees. The researchers found a statistically "weak but significant" link between civic participation and quality of life. The study also revealed that civil society is strongest in Northern Europe and weakest in Southern and Eastern Europe.

A separate study suggested that institutional settings like the welfare state regime and democratic rights explain the difference in the level of civic participation by country. It also suggested that the state is able to stimulate civic participation by providing a high level of social security and civil rights.