Abstract

Work in progress

23rd Nordic Sociological Conference, Dissolution of Society, Turku, 18-20.8.2006

Söderberg, Patrik & Knuts, Tomas 2006

Åbo Akademi University, Youth Researchers, Dep. of Social Science.

patrik.soderberg@abo.fi, tomas.knuts@abo.fi

Dimensions of civic engagement - A study of political interest and organizational participation among young people

Civic engagement among young people is a pressing issue in Western society. International media often maintain a picture of declining participation. On the other hand recent studies argue that this tendency only applies to traditional modes of political activity and that young people are almost as interested in society as ever.

The primary purpose of the present study is to investigate civic engagement as well as dimensions of participation among young people. A secondary purpose is to investigate the concept of political and non-political participation. Taking an electronic survey conducted in Ostrobothnia as a starting point, the paper examines different instruments for evaluating interest in local society.

In order to find a functional concept the paper will discuss popular theories of civic participation. The primary survey was conducted among ca 1100 high school students (boys 553, girls 575), and included both Swedish and Finnish speaking youths. The study will also perform in-depth studies of some common instruments, such as ‘Ungdomsenkäten Lupp’, ‘Nuorisobarometri’ and the Civic Engagement Studies (CS).

The results will be compiled during Summer 2006 and will be employed in the further development of a youth policy action plan for municipalities in Ostrobothnia.