Discussion

Abstract

This concluding chapter discusses the central messages of the preceding chapters in terms of their meaning to the functioning of modern democracy. It also sketches possible ways through which future research in the field might broaden its scope. It is suggested that since the individual-level determinants of political knowledge are fairly well established, placing the emphasis on the concept of political sophistication would offer a new direction. Political sophistication goes beyond political knowledge by also analyzing the use of information, not only its existence in the human memory. Given the importance of information processing through the media in contemporary Western politics, political sophistication seems a lucrative theoretical concept for future studies.