Activists - what drives them?

What on earth makes thousands work in their own time and often at their own cost in the name of politics?

It is perhaps quite understandable that people should stand for election at whatever level of the democratic pyramid. They may seek the Viagra of power. They may seek to change society for the better. They may simply be ambitious. But at the end, there is a reward, in the form of remuneration, celebrity, influence, satisfaction at outcome, even a better society.

But what of the volunteer foot-soldiers who work tirelessly to put them in this happy state? What do they get? Why do they/we do it,  for there is no glamour and not a little stress involved in cold-calling on the phone, in unwelcome door-knocking, in carrying through the 19th century form-filling or in raising funds which may serve little purpose, for candidates with no hope of victory? They travel at their own expense. They spend their own leisure time devoted to boring, repetitive tasks often in the face of insults. They are largely anonymous both within their party and the outside world, so expect no reward or recognition.

For some, it may simply be a hobby, a past-time linked to their political allegiance but this is surely insufficiently powerful a pull to explain the sheer number of volunteers and hours devoted to the campaign trail. This can surely best be explained by the values they see in the politics. Being myself of the Left, I certainly promote Labour because I want to live in a fairer, less selfish society. How Tories explain their values I leave to them - this is beyond comprehension [unless malice is a value]. But a vision of a better society must surely be the driver for the great unpaid armies currently at work. Let us hope we get one.