How did the pandemic shape the dynamics of two civic communities?: unraveling complementarities and divergences within Spain's civic culture

Abstract

Based on a pilot study carried out at the end of May 2020, in this text we develop an introductory framework for the study of citizenship and pandemics and the development of the civic or democratic culture in Spain. We present the main results and conclusions of a survey, with a sample of almost 800 individuals, in relation to the importance that citizens gave to some democratic or civic attitudes during the early phases of the pandemic – in particular, to solidarity actions and compliance with rules and authorities during the state of alarm and confinement in the country. Our approach focuses on the behavioral patterns and political culture that individuals shared throughout the pandemic that arose in 2020. The main results allow us to suggest the existence of two ideal dimensions, or types, of civic engagement.