Abstract
This study examines the difference in degree of political involvement among the educated Sudanese. To test for the differences, the chi square technique was mainly used. The dependent variable of degree of participation was measured by five indices--electoral activities, campaign activities, office seeking, attending formal meetings, and participation in demonstrations. The independent variables were the participants' level of education, age, social background, and marital status. The findings of this study revealed that: (a) There is a partial difference in the degree of political participation among educated Sudanese according to their level of education, age, marital status, and social background. (b) The level of education and age seemed relatively to influence the extent of political participation more than marital status and social background. (c) Relatively speaking, the trend of the data suggests that, with an increase in age, the educated Sudanese, who have a higher level of education, are married, and have a traditional social background, participate in politics more than those who have less education, are younger and single, and have a modern-urban social background. (d) Taking the target population as a whole, the educated Sudanese participate in activities related to their traditional role in society rather than a modern-oriented role, with the exception of participation in trade union activities. They are still performing their traditional role of leadership irrespective of the apparent apathy shown by the empirical data. Before the findings of this study are to be endorsed it is important to take into consideration two points. The methodology and literature used in this study are borrowed from an advanced industrial society. Therefore, they may not be able to encompass, contain and analyze political participation in the Sudan. That is because of cultural differences. Along with this, more research needs to be conducted. Such research should include more independent variables and more indices measuring the dependent variables, taking into consideration the local socio-political reality in the Sudan.