Exploring Youth Civic Engagement and Disengagement in a Globalized World

• In Event: Democratic Citizenship in Education Paper Session 2

Abstract

After reviewing the significance of youth civic engagement to democratic participation, this paper presents the findings of a comprehensive literature review and research study of youth engagement (or disengagement) in civic life in several nations. The findings demonstrate the complexity of the terms civic engagement and youth citizenship education and illustrate how it is influenced by a number of local and global variables, underlying ideologies and socio-economic factors, such as race and class. Further, quantitative and qualitative data illustrate that youth disengagement is possibly growing in several nations and is related to a number of contextual, local and global conditions. The paper ends with recommendations that aim to address these findings, including suggestions to revise citizenship education programs.

Authors

• Catherine A. Broom, The University of British Columbia - Okanagan

• Michael C. Johanek, University of Pennsylvania