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[ Youth and Citizenship ]


..::: Youth and Citizenship :::..


The way in which youth and adults view citizenship is distinctive; in fact, only 38% of young adults believe that special obligations and duties are attached to citizenship. This contrasts with the 48% of GenXers, 60% of Boomers, and 49% of Matures who believe that citizenship indeed entails certain obligations (CIRCLE study).

Yet even with this view of citizenship and disengagement from conventional political life (according to a CIRCLE study, 57% of youth are completely disengaged), youth often participate in non-traditional forms of politics. For example, young adults are more likely to have volunteered in the past year than any other generational group. Another study done by the Panetta Institute asserts that between the years of 1998-2000 more than 73% of students volunteered at least once. Additionally, 85% of youth prefer volunteering to traditional politics as a way of addressing important community issues (Harvard Institute of Politics). Other popular, non-traditional forms of political engagement that young adults partake in are “consumer activism,” demonstrations, and more.

Thus, although youth are not engaged in traditional politics, they are still politically active in varying ways and are fulfilling (whether intentionally or unintentionally) their “roles” as citizens to an extent. Scott Keeter, professor of government and international politics at George Mason University, and Associate Director of the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, states that “younger citizens look very much like future contributors to the civic health of the nation, even though their lack of an electoral presence is troubling.”




Panetta Institute Survey Summary (Jan 11, 2000)

[Excerpt]:

While college students have little interest in politics or political careers, they nonetheless are civic-minded and public-spirited—showing a strong tendency, for example, to do volunteer work for causes in which they believe. They are less engaged in politics and government than are adults overall, but not because they feel more cynical or alienated. In fact, students are less cynical about politics and government than their elders. Rather, students’ lower levels of engagement appear to result from a perception that politics is less relevant to them or to the issues about which they care. They do believe in giving something back to their communities, but see work in education or for non-profit organizations as better ways to accomplish those goals than careers in politics. While students overwhelmingly oppose mandatory national service proposals, they strongly favor incentives to encourage voluntary public service.

Students Are Not Very Involved In Electoral Politics

Students are less likely to vote than the population at large. More than four in ten (43%) of eligible students admit that they did not vote in the Presidential election of 1996. Two thirds (66%) of eligible students say they failed to turn out for the elections of 1998. Slightly fewer students (71%) than adults (76%) report they are currently registered to vote, but there is a clear tendency to over-report both registration and voting across the population. Students also do not spend much time either following or discussing politics. Only 27% of students follow politics "most of the time" and only 27% discuss politics at least three times a week.

Nonetheless, College Students Are Public-Spirited And Civic-Minded

Despite their lack of interest in politics, college students express their public spirit and civic-mindedness in numerous ways. Nearly three-quarters (73%) have done volunteer work in the past two years, and most (62%) more than once. Their volunteer experiences include caring for the hungry or homeless (33%), helping people in other countries (12%), and cleaning up the environment (16%). Half (50%) report making a purchase decision based on their political beliefs, and large numbers report having contacted an elected official (29%) or the media (28%) about an issue.

Students’ civic-mindedness and public spirit is also evident in some of the values they profess. Finding a job that "will make a positive difference in people’s lives" is considered at least "very important" by 80%. This compares to, for example, 55% who say finding a well-paying job is at least "very important." Seventy percent (70%) put a similarly high value on working to make their community, or country (69%), a better place. Yet, "serving" one’s country or following current events are important to many fewer (44% and 46%, respectively).

There Is Substantial Interest In Public Service Careers, Though Not In Politics

Many students expect to spend part of their careers in jobs that reflect their civic-mindedness, including working for "non-profits" (17% "very likely," 63% total likely), in "public service" (18% "very likely," 56% total likely), and in "public affairs" (7% "very likely," 40% total likely). Interest in these careers cuts across demographic groups, however women (62% total likely), and social science majors (73% total likely) are somewhat more likely to say they will pursue a career in public service.

However, public service does not mean politics or government to these students. Nearly half (49%) say that a career in public service involves working for a non-profit, in their mind. Only about a third (38%) equate public service with work in government.

Far Fewer Students Are Interested In Political Careers Or Work In Government

Far fewer students express an interest in pursuing careers in "politics" (6% "very likely," 25% total likely) or "government" (8% "very likely," 36% total likely) than are interested in "public service" or "public affairs."

Students do not see politics as a particularly good way of achieving any of their career goals. Hi-tech and education are seen as the best way to challenge oneself, while those careers, plus medicine, are seen as the best ways to do something "exciting and interesting." Business affords the best opportunities for promotion, while hi-tech, law, medicine, and business are thought to be the best ways to earn a living. Even in the areas where politics should have natural advantages it lags behind other careers. For example, 32% say that education is the best way to make a difference for society, compared to only 8% who say that about politics. Similarly, 27% say the best way to give something back to one’s community is through non-profit work and 22% say through education, compared to 17% for politics.

Cynicism And Alienation Cannot Account For The Low Level Of Interest And Participation In Politics

Alienation is often cited as the source of lower participation among young people in politics. If this were in fact the causal link, we would expect students to be more cynical and alienated than other segments of the population. Instead, students are less alienated than the public overall. One measure of alienation is the extent to which people feel negatively toward both major parties. Few students (9%) have an unfavorable impression of both political parties. Further, students are more likely to feel favorably toward both parties (29%) than is the public overall (21%). A plurality of students (46%) are partisan, having a favorable impression of one party, but not the other.

Compared to the public overall, students are less likely to feel government is run for the benefit of special interests (students: 49%; public 1998: 64%). Students are also more likely to trust the government to do what is right "just about always" or "most of the time" (students: 41%; public 1998: 29%). In addition, students are no more likely to find politicians crooked than is the public overall (students: 39% "quite a few" are crooked; public: 41% "quite a few").

However, Students Are Less Likely To Find Government Relevant To Them Personally

While higher levels of cynicism and alienation cannot account for lower levels of student participation, the sense that politics is irrelevant to students can. On these measures, there are meaningful differences between students and others.

Students are less likely than adults overall to see politics as relevant to their lives. Government is substantially more likely to be seen as playing no role in the lives of students (35% no role) than in the lives of the general population (17% no role). Further, a slim plurality of students (48%) says government does not address the issues that concern them.

While Students Oppose A National Service Requirement, They Overwhelmingly Favor Incentives For National Service

Aside from the Peace Corps (87% heard of), few students are aware of current public service opportunities available to students nationally. Most know little or nothing about Americorps or Vista. Teach for America has a wider audience, but still nearly half of students (46%) are largely unaware of this organization.

Despite their community spirit, students oppose compulsory national service by a wide margin (25% favor, 60% oppose). However, an even greater number favor an incentive program that would exchange work in public service for temporary forbearance on their student loans (80% favor, 10% oppose).

This suggests that students will respond favorably to an incentive to pursue work in a field in which many already express an interest. They also need to know more about their options for public service and receive encouragement

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Youth Civic Engagement Index

[Excerpts]:

Some highlights of the study:

  • Young people are much more likely to support government action and are just as engaged in apolitical civic activities as are older generations, but are less likely to trust others and participate in electoral politics.
  • "Generation DotNet" (15-25 year-olds) has a strong and distinct generational identity, while joining older citizens in using consumer activism as a vehicle for expressing their political and policy views.
  • Younger Americans don't share older generations' views about the responsibilities of citizenship, but they do say that civic education makes a big difference in fueling their interest in public affairs.
  • The report also identifies what is working to increase the civic engagement of young people.

    ....

    Some of the key findings about DotNets

  • Nearly six-in-ten DotNets are completely disengaged from civic life.
  • Nearly half say civic education increases their interest in public affairs.
  • Less than four-in-ten believe citizenship entails certain responsibilities.
  • More than a third have used boycotting, and a similar share have used "buycotting", to express their social views.

    The Distinct DotNets - A Paradox

    "This research reveals a real paradox in the civic attitudes of the DotNets," said William Galston, Director of CIRCLE. "The youngest generation is more favorable toward government action and more socially tolerant than older generations, yet they are also less attentive to public affairs, less involved in politics, and less trustful of others."

    Factors that set 15-25 year-olds apart include:

  • Unique: A full 69% of DotNets claim their age group is unique, significantly more than GenXers (42%), Baby Boomers (50%), and Matures (51%).

  • Disengaged: More than half of the DotNets (57%) are completely disengaged from civic life according to the study's criteria. Fifteen percent are involved in electoral politics only (compared to 20% overall), and 17% limit their participation to civic activities. Just one-in-ten (11%) qualify as "dual activists," individuals who engage in both electoral and civic activities.

  • Social Tolerance: Sixty percent of DotNets agree with both the statements "Homosexuality should be accepted," and "Immigrants strengthen the country," compared to GenX (54% accepting homosexuality, 51% pro-immigrant), Baby Boomers (50%, 49%), and Matures (39%, 42%).

  • Pro-Government: Large majorities of DotNets agree with the statements "Government should do more to solve problems" (64%), "Government regulation of business is necessary to protect the public interest" (65%), and "Government often does a better job than people give it credit for" (65%). These responses are significantly higher than the responses given by GenX (51%, 60%, 49% respectively), Boomers (43%, 54%, 50%), and Matures (38%, 53%, 44%).

  • Volunteering: DotNets are more likely to have engaged in at least some volunteer activity in the past year (40%) than GenXers (32%), Boomers (32%), and Matures (22%) and are comparable in regular volunteering.

  • Consumer Activists: More than a third (38%) of the Dot Nets have reported not buying something from a company they do not like in order to punish them, and a similar number (35%) say they have purchased a product from a particular company to reward them for some corporate behavior. The DotNets' rate is surprisingly almost equal to that of the Baby Boomers (41%, 37% respectively) and the GenXers (43%, 42%).

  • Inattentive: Only 24% of DotNets claim to follow government and public affairs "very often," compared to 60% of Matures, 50% of Baby Boomers, and 37% of GenXers.

  • Low News Consumers: Only about one-third of DotNets regularly follow the news through newspapers (30%), the radio (33%), or television (38%).

  • Distrust People: Seventy percent of DotNets agree that "Most people look out for themselves," and 56% agree that "Most people would take advantage of you." The DotNets respond far more affirmatively to these statements than GenX (59%, 41% respectively), Boomers (49%, 36%), and Matures (40%, 29%).

  • Citizen Responsibility: Only 38% of DotNets say that citizenship entails special obligations while 58% say simply being a good person is enough. This is markedly different than the responses provided by GenXers (48% special obligations, 48% being a good person enough), Baby Boomers (60%, 34 %) and Matures (59%, 32%).

  • "Younger Americans trail their elders in attentiveness to public affairs and in electoral participation, but hold their own in community-related and volunteer activities and in activities that give voice to their concerns," said study researcher Scott Keeter, professor of government and international politics at George Mason University, and Associate Director of the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press. "In fact, younger citizens look very much like future contributors to the civic health of the nation, even though their lack of an electoral presence is troubling."

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