Information rules as institutions shaping political participation

Information underlies political participation, making information critical to governance and political systems, particularly in democracies. Furthermore, institutions critically shape distribution of information. In this sense, critical analysis of information flows within the Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) Framework would importantly contribute to improved understanding of the political role of information. This paper will thus consider aspects of the following puzzle: why does participation increase with increased access to information and information technology among politically engaged individuals, but not among those who have not participated in the past or who self-identify as unengaged? Specifically, this preliminary analysis will consider dimensions of information access - availability, awareness, and ability to use - stratified by differences in political participation, as measured by consciousness, resource contributions, institutionalized actions, and public forum participation. Statistical analysis supports the development of an agenda for future research regarding information rules and proposal of testable hypotheses.