Why seek to serve?
Why seek to serve?
The chapter examines the complex set of reasons, stimuli and motivations that lead individuals to place themselves before the voters to become elected councillors. It examines the political recruitment process for councillors and adds to our understanding of that process by acknowledging the role that councillors themselves play in that process identifying three separate pathways to the council: the big-bang, the slow-burn and the resister. The chapter sets out four groups of factors that stimulate individuals into seeking council office: public service, the democratic spirit, ambitional and status and reward and explores the role each play as other-regarding and self-regarding reasons for becoming a councillor. The chapter concludes that, among councillors, other regarding reasons for seeking office are a greater source of stimuli than the self-regarding reasons.
Keywords: Political recruitment, Local elections, Councillors, Social composition of councillors, Political motivation, Political elite, Councillor backgrounds, Political characteristics
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