Resolving Uneven Generational Patterns of Citizenship and Electoral Participation – The Impact of Institutional Changes on Youth Citizenship, Political Participation and Voting in Britain

The relationships between citizens and their states are undergoing significant stresses across advanced liberal democracies. In Britain, this disconnect is particularly evident amongst young citizens. This paper considers whether institutional and electoral changes might encourage increased youth citizenship, political participation and voting. Data collected in 2011 from a national survey of 1,025 British 18 year olds and from focus groups reveal that many young people claim that they would be more likely to vote in future elections if such institutional-electoral reforms were implemented. However, forcing young people to vote through the introduction of compulsory voting may actually serve to reinforce deepening resentments, rather than engage young people in a positive manner. Instead, political parties should take the lead by initiating direct engagement with young people, including youth constituency surgeries at sites frequented by this generation, national and community-based youth-led party policy forums, and greater use of e-dialogue methods.