In person icon Beyond the Ballot: Young People, Citizenship and the Margins of Democratic Politics

Abstract

This panel brings together a series of papers that reflect on key developments in young people’s politics against the backdrop of a shifting democratic and international political landscape. Although young people play a decisive role in shaping the future of the political systems they reside in, their opportunities to influence elite political agendas have largely been limited to what might traditionally be considered as the margins of democratic politics - with their political engagement often taking alternative, non-institutional forms, such as protests, volunteering, or grassroots activism. The contributions in this panel examine the potential for moving beyond these margins, focusing on young people’s changing norms of citizenship, the significance of citizenship education, and the role of socio-economic backgrounds in shaping political engagement. Additionally, the panel explores how young people perceive their own political role in contrast to public and elite perspectives. By examining different national and regional contexts, this panel highlights key challenges and emerging trends in young people’s role in democratic politics both today and going forward.

Title	Details
Citizenship Attitudes in Times of Change: Adolescents' Perceptions of ‘Good’ Citizenship Over Time	View Paper Details
Residential Mobility and Voting Behavior: Assessing the Impact of Socioeconomic Transitions During Adolescence on Electoral Participation in Sweden	View Paper Details
Good Citizenship at Crossroads? Youth Citizenship and the Illiberal Turn in Europe	View Paper Details
Does Public Opinion Want Voting at 16 ? An Analysis of Belgian Survey Data.	View Paper Details
(Dis)connecting with Youth: How MP Discourse Addresses Young People on Social Media Platforms	View Paper Details