Citizens adrift : the democratic disengagement of young Canadians / Paul Howe.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Howe, Paul, 1966-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Young adults--Political activity--Canada.

Young adults.

Political participation--Canada.

Political participation.

Social integration--Canada.

Social integration.

Physical Description:

xx, 338 p. : ill.

Place of Publication:

Vancouver : UBC Press, c2010.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Many political observers, struck by low turnout rates among young voters, are pessimistic about the future of democracy in Canada and other Western nations. Citizens in general are disengaged in politics, and young people in particular are said to be adrift in a sea of apathy. Others have questioned this bleak assessment, arguing that youth engagement has shifted to newer forms of political and community involvement. In Citizens Adrift, Paul Howe examines past and present patterns of political and civic engagement and concludes that many young Canadians are, in fact, detached from the political realm. Two trends underlie his findings: waning political knowledge and attentiveness and generational changes in the norms and values that help sustain social integration. Putting young people back on the path towards engaged citizenship therefore requires a holistic approach, one which acknowledges that democratic engagement extends beyond the realm of formal politics.

Contents:

pt. 1. Setting the stage

pt. 2. Political attentiveness

pt. 3. Social integration

pt. 4. Looking back, looking forward.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (p. [309]-324) and index.

ISBN:

1-283-33569-7

9786613335692

0-7748-1877-8

OCLC:

757855471