How Identity-Based Youth Programs Shape Civic Behavior Among Disadvantaged Adolescents: A Network Co-evolution Approach

• In Event: Civic Practices, Education Policy and Diverse Perspectives

Abstract

Civic engagement is foundational for democracy, yet marginalized youth face systemic barriers to civic learning and inclusion. Identity-based youth programs can act as critical spaces to foster civic development in marginalized communities. This study investigates the dynamic relationship between civic discussion networks and civic engagement among 496 US Muslim adolescents participating in an identity-based youth program. Using stochastic actor-oriented models (SAOMs), we examine how civic discussion ties and civic engagement co-evolve over time. Results find that civic learning occurs within small, trusted peer groups, a potential response to the scrutiny Muslim youth face for their civic participation. This study suggests that identity-based youth programs can serve as social ecosystems to develop stable peer networks that support civic learning and engagement.

Author

• Maneeza Dawood, Stanford University