Tipos de activistas en organizaciones partidarias

To operate effectively as channels of democratic representation, political parties rely on the sustained engagement of activists at all levels. We develop a conceptual typology of types of party activists, depending on whether the activist's contribution (in time or money) generates utility in terms of consumption or it is assumed as an investment. Specifying different activist profiles enhances our understanding of how parties transform and adapt over time. More specifically, we suggest preliminary hypotheses and provide evidence from surveys conducted to Chilean parties' activists, showing that activists belonging to different profiles will vary considerably in their response to hypothetical shocks.