Cultural, leisure and sports initiatives are the areas in which Italians are most willing to participate. However, they also do not disdain getting involved in issues related to the area in which they live, rather than in social voluntary work. On the other hand, activities related to politics, protest or peace issues are less popular. In general, the male component, the youngest (up to 34 years) and the oldest (over 55 years), those living in the North East, those who are self-employed, pensioners and students take part more in these activities. Above all, the core of so-called 'militants' who are exclusively dedicated to the activities of an association is a marginal share (0.8%), while numerically more consistent are those who participate non-exclusively (interested: 21.6%) or only occasionally (occasional: 68.5%). This is the map of social commitment and the profile of those who participate in their activities.
One key area of interest relates to the thematic areas of participation. Cultural events (59.3 per cent), together with sporting events (52.1 per cent), top the list of Italians’ preferences. Whilst the latter is traditionally the most popular, it is worth noting that the diverse world of cultural initiatives constitutes a major draw. Clearly, there is a widespread demand – in the broadest sense – for culture, for deeper understanding or even simply for aesthetic enjoyment, which calls for new avenues and new approaches. One need only look at the growing success of exhibitions, or the proliferation of festivals on a variety of topics. Not far behind, we then find participation in initiatives linked to environmental and health issues (49.2 per cent), to the world of voluntary work (49.1 per cent), and to the local area or the towns and cities in which people live (40.9 per cent): in other words, areas of engagement linked to the enhancement or protection of one’s environment, and to the building of solidarity networks. Although in a different form, it is nevertheless interesting to note how a significant proportion of citizens are actively involved in initiatives such as local festivals or village fairs (44.3 per cent). These events have become widespread across the country in recent years and, whilst they serve different purposes, are no less important in building social capital. More often than not, in fact, these are initiatives aimed at raising funds for local communities, ranging from historical re-enactments to the revival of traditions. If we exclude those who participate in professional or trade associations (30.4 per cent), the sphere of politics in the general sense is the least popular, although around a third (35.6 per cent) of respondents have taken part in initiatives organised by political parties or movements. This does not mean that they are activists, but rather that they are citizens who, out of personal interest, have attended some of these events.
