What Drives Politicians to Run for Office: Money, Fame or Public Service?

Abstract

Th is is a multiple case study that investigates the motivations and ambitions of politicians who run for elections. It uses a mixed research design that applies inductive reasoning in the collection and analysis of data from six communities of rural Armenia. Data-collection instruments include in-depth interviews, focus groups, fi eld observations and community survey. Whereas the study considers various theories of motivation and ambition, the conclusive evidence shows that the attractiveness of offi ce at the local-government level in smaller rural communities is not driven by fi nancial considerations and is rather compelled by the desire to make a diff erence motivated primarily by personal interest in and dedication to bringing positive change in the quality of life in one's own community. Th e study also shows that motivators oft en stem from several other factors, including one's deep-rooted connection with the community, lineage, length of term in offi ce, record of community satisfaction, resultant personal power built over the years in service and the need to be acclaimed by one's own community. A derivative closely linked to the priority of building the personal reputation of an incumbent mayor is the resultant power of decision-making. Th ese conclusions can be explained using the model off ered by Besley and Ghatak (2005) where politicians view public service as a personal mission. Th is study connects personal drive to sense of community and ancestral presence. Th e study also explains why mission accomplishment is more attractive than personal profi t-making and how the sense of community and ownership are linked to personal drive.

Does Affect Voluntary significant to non-profit servant motivation in Yogyakarta?

“…Growing research shows that politicians are motivated by close relations with society, lineage, personal mission. This finding is in accordance with (Balian & Gasparyan, 2017) where politicians see public service as a personal mission.…”

“…Research on public service motivation in rural Australia is more focused on the motivation of politicians to run for elections, especially individual motivation dedicated to society (Balian & Gasparyan, 2017). Growing research shows that politicians are motivated by close relations with society, lineage, personal mission.…”