Young People and Politics

Abstract

Throughout Europe the level of political participation among young people is a cause for concern: when compared with previous generations contemporary European youth are found accused of lacking moral fiber and political commitment. Young people are regularly described as being less reliable and less politically involved citizens than their elders. The attitude of young people toward politics is constantly debated, often giving rise to pessimistic predictions about the future health of Western democracies. The steady increase in electoral abstentionism and the decline in identification with political parties are regarded as being symptomatic of disillusionment with political representation which, though present in all age groups of society, is particularly acute among the younger generations. How do things really stand? What kind of relationship with politics do today’s young people have? Are they less politicized than their elders? Do they have the same political culture and references as earlier generations, or are they politicized using new models and forms of expression which have redefined contemporary citizenship?