CAN KNOWING THE LAW MAKE ONE WOKE: DOES AWARENESS OF THE RULE OF LAW PROMOTED CIVIC-MINDEDNESS AND INCREASED POLITICAL PARTICIPATION OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN THE CONTEXT OF A DEMOCRACY?

Abstract

This study aimed to generally investigate the factors affecting undergraduate political participation and civic-mindedness, focusing on attitudes towards the rule of law as the dependent variable. In a survey carried out amongst 244 undergraduate students, the study measured whether students have an opinion and discussion on various issues of university and national governance, and whether they were likely to attend formal engagements on that issue. The survey also measured whether students had participated in a political rally and voted in student union elections. Attitudes towards the rule of law was measured in terms of idealism (for example, whether the government should follow the law), and respondent’s belief in the rule of law’s efficacy (whether the law is effective and constraining government power). Descriptive statistics with frequency distribution tables and regressions were then run on the data collected. Results demonstrated that students generally had low levels of political participation across all forms of participation, with exception of voting in student union elections. Belief in the efficacy of the rule of law was consistently negatively correlated with decreased levels of discussion and opinion, as well as attendance at political rallies and voting. Idealising the rule of law was positively correlated with increased levels of strong opinion. Participatory behaviour at the university level and being a law student was also positively correlated with most aspects of participation, with exception of voting and rally attendance, where no statistically significant relationship was reported.