Local politicians 1993 - Mail questionnaire

This survey is part of the research programme ´Demokrati i förändring´. The main purpose was to look into changes in the idea of the role as a local politician and in the working conditions of local politicians taking place since the corresponding survey in 1980, ´Local Politicians, 1979-80´ (SSD 0101). The changes are related to ´the local authority reorganisation´ in shape of ´privatisation´ and ´new democratic structures´. The questionnaire, addressed to local authority and county council politicians, contained background information such as age, place of residence, marital status, education, citizenship, occupation, political party and for how long time one had been a member of the party, and time for first assignment. Other questions dealt with the opinion of the general public regarding local politicians; the attitude of people around the respondent towards the political commitment; and contacts with the general public, mass media, associations, organisations, and companies concerning local issues during the last year. For a number of local authority areas the respondent had to state if it is important to increase the local authority commitment, if it is enough as it is, or if it could be reduced. For a number of statements about how it ought to come about in politics the respondents had to state if they agreed or not. A number of questions concerned conflicts between different activities of the elected representative; time required for different activities; membership of the party organisation council, and other organisation commissions; and how to vote when there is a conflict between the opinion of the councillor, the party, and the general public. The respondents also had to state how important the various moments in the decision-making process are in their own municipality; how much the opinions of the other political parties usually differs from their own party; qualities the parties ought to consider when nominating candidates; and to what extent the space of action is influenced by external circumstances. For a number of statements about the role of local politicians and local government officers in the decision-making process, and about the conditions for men and women in society, the respondents had to state if they agreed or not. The respondents also had to decide on a number of proposals discussed to make the local authority organisation and the decision-making process more efficient; and if they agreed or not in a number of statements about political cooperation between countries, and local consequences of a Swedish approach toward the European Union.