The study of patterns of political and civil participation amongst youth is considered a key to understanding the evolution of democratic societies (Hooghe 2014). Youth are in a paradoxical situation as bothchallengersof contemporary institutions on the one hand, and as a futureprotectorof the same institutions on the other. This is why youth studies can contribute to the possibility of inciting what societal changes we can expect in years to come.
The overarching goal of this project is to present the big picture of Norwegian youth participation in civil society and political life. We will shed light on three questions: Over time, are patterns of youth participation characterized by continuity or change? What significance does new technology and social media have for the creation of new forms of collective action, participation and political inclusion/exclusion? And how do younger generations deal with “new” and “old” forms of collective participation/action?
The answer to these questions is sought within the realm of four subprojects:
- Changes in patterns of youth participation.
- The non-participant youth: Individual and contextual mechanisms of absence.
- Organizational participation and political engagement.
- New social media and youth civic engagement.
The project will make use of different types of data and methods, such as surveys and time series.
