Capture-Recapture Methods and Party Activism in Britain

Abstract

Capture-recapture methods are of general interest because they can be applied to conventional historical sources to address otherwise intractable questions about the size and dynamics of historical populations. When employed to assess alternative explanations for the long-term trajectory of party activism in Britain—based on data drawn from the South Lewisham Labour Party—they suggest that the falling supply of individuals prepared to become politically involved is more important than the changing demand of parties for activists.