Research Process
Precise statement: the lack of studies about the influence of macro-level factors on youth political engagement.
“Civic and political engagement in youth” by Xenia Chryssochoou and Martyn Barrett.
This article analyses several reports from studies on the participation of the young population in political activities across the world. The paper stays partially Western-centred because the democratization process in other parts of the world is still lagging behind Western civilization. Chryssochoou and Barrett (2017) argue that “the claim that youth are not sufficiently engaged either civically or politically” is based on either outdated or insufficient information (p. 291). The author review correlations between various macro-level factors, such as cultural features, political situations in countries, available technological means of communication, and economic factors with political knowledge of the young generation and their political activity.
The authors discuss the main ways that the young population uses to convey their political activities, and how these means can be used to connect politicians with the young audience. Chryssochoou and Barrett (2017) demonstrate that youth social and political maturity is “significantly associated with their country’s score on the United Nations Human Development Index” (p. 296). There is a communication gap between those in power and young people, which is currently neglected and creates an illusion of the apathetic behavior of youth toward political issues (Chryssochoou & Barrett, 2017). This paper signifies the need to find common ground for interaction between young people and politicians in order to promote democracy.
“Youth political participation in the EU: Evidence from a cross-national analysis” by Magdelina Kitanova.
This research paper is based on comparative data obtained from 28 European Union countries and analyses the link between the political context in these countries and youth engagement in political activities. Kitanova (2019) argues that while “youth are perceived as increasingly disengaged and disconnected from traditional political processes in Europe,” their interest in politics is similar to other age groups. Findings suggest that instead of formal participation in politics, young people use alternative forms of engagement, such as demonstrations, protests, petitions, and online debates (Kitanova, 2019). This article depicts how the democratic maturity of each country varies due to macro-level factors, and there is a direct correlation between it and the percentage of young voters. Kitanova (2019) provides a novel contribution to the issue that “while social and educational factors (at individual-level) matter, age of democracy influences patterns of political participation among young people in the EU.” The paper highlights the lack of research on the political context and alternate means of civic engagement used by the young generation.
Conclusion
Both articles provide meaningful information on the issue that has been addressed in “Youth-led activism and political engagement in New Zealand: A survey of Generation Zero” by Giles Dodson and Evangelia Papoutsaki. This paper also finds similar trends in the political activities of young people in New Zealand, as they pursuit political information outside of formal means (Dodson & Papoutsaki, 2017). The data provided by Generation Zero suggests that it is not the issue with apathetic youth that is responsible for declining vote counts (Dodson & Papoutsaki, 2017). Having this information confirmed by multiple sources, it is only logical to assume that political studies are in need to reform their current approach. The decline in the participation of youth in politics is a direct result of miscommunications between politicians and younger generations. To empower young people, governments need to involve alternate ways to share information and be more available for informal communication.
References
Chryssochoou, X., & Barrett, M. (2017). Civic and political engagement in youth. Zeitschrift für Psychologie, 225(4), 291-301.
Dodson. G., & Papoutsaki, E. (2017). Youth-led activism and political engagement in New Zealand: A survey of Generation Zero. Communication Research and Practice, 3(2), 194-211.
Kitanova, M. (2019). Youth political participation in the EU: Evidence from a cross-national analysis.Journal of Youth Studies.