Political literacy concerns not only the knowledge of political systems and institutions. It also relates to the acquisition and use of knowledge and skills, as well as people’s attitudes and values. Additionally, it includes individuals’ critical awareness of the social, cultural, political, and economic context, and ulti- mately, their ability to effectively engage in demo- cratic life as informed and active citizens.
This study assesses whether it is possible to develop a robust nationwide measure of political literacy in the UK. To do so, it surveys different approaches to understanding, governing, and measuring political literacy in the UK and internationally.