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Defining and Measuring Political Participation and Young People

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Politics, Protest and Young People

Abstract

This chapter focuses on political participation by emphasising the way it is defined, measured and analysed informs interpretations of young people’s engagement and how young citizens are considered. The chapter starts by providing quantitative and qualitative definitions of political participation within different theoretical frameworks and shows how wider definitions are more realistic and optimistic. It is argued that definitions are ‘period sensitive’ and ‘beholder sensitive’. The chapter then gives a substantial literature review and a critical assessment of definitions of political participation. Next, it discusses the binary classifications of political participation that can be anachronistic and judgemental. The chapter finishes by documenting how political participation has expanded through creative means instigated by young people, which is what I call DIO politics (Do-It-Ourselves political participation).

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  1. Université Sorbonne Nouvelle, Paris, France

    Sarah Pickard

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  1. Sarah Pickard
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Pickard, S. (2019). Defining and Measuring Political Participation and Young People. In: Politics, Protest and Young People. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-57788-7_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-57788-7_3

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