Jobless Citizens : Political Engagement of the Young Unemployed

This book examines patterns of political engagement of long-term unemployed youth. The authors show how unemployment affects the personal, social, and political life of young people. Focusing on the case of Geneva in Switzerland, the study shows the importance of socioeconomic, relational, psychological, and institutional resources for the political engagement of unemployed youth. The book shows specifically how the relationship between unemployment and the political engagement of unemployed youth is mediated by a number of factors: their socioeconomic status and more generally their individual background, their level of deprivation and the associated degree of subjective well-being; the social capital that unemployed youth draw from involvement in voluntary associations and interpersonal networks and relations, and the political learning stemming from interactions with welfare institutions and their perception of such interactions. Students and scholars in areas including Sociology, Political Science, Economics, Youth Studies and Social Policy will find this study of interest. "Jobless Citizens" -- "Contents" -- "List of Figures" -- "1 Introduction" -- "Unemployment and Political Engagement" -- "A Resource-Based Model of the Political Participation of Young Unemployed" -- "Switzerland and Geneva in Comparative Perspective" -- "A Methodological Note" -- "Notes" -- "2 The Political Engagement of Unemployed Youth" -- "Employment Status, Age, and Political Participation" -- "Political Attitudes" -- "Political Participation" -- "Youth Citizenship" -- "Summing Up" -- "Note" -- "3 Individual Background and Socioeconomic Status" -- "The Baseline Model of Political Participation" -- "Socioeconomic Status and Unemployment" -- "Socioeconomic Status and Other Sociodemographic Characteristics of Unemployed Youth in Geneva" -- "The Effect of Socioeconomic Status on the Political Participation of Unemployed Youth" -- "Summing Up" -- "Notes" -- "4 Deprivation and Subjective Well-Being" -- "The Role of Employment for Subjective Well-Being" -- "Unemployment and Subjective Well-Being" -- "Subjective Well-Being and Political Engagement" -- "The Subjective Well-Being of Unemployed Youth in Geneva" -- "The Effect of Subjective Well-Being on the Political Participation of Unemployed Youth" -- "Summing Up" -- "Note" -- "5 Social Networks and Social Capital" -- "Social Capital Theory" -- "Social Capital and Unemployment" -- "Social Capital of Unemployed Youth in Geneva" -- "The Effect of Social Capital on the Political Participation of Unemployed Youth" -- "Summing Up" -- "Notes" -- "6 Welfare State and Political Learning" -- "Interacting with the State" -- "Welfare State and Unemployment Policies in Switzerland" -- "Interacting with the Welfare State in Geneva" -- "The Effect of Political Learning on the Political Participation of Unemployed Youth" -- "Summing Up" -- "Note" -- "7 Putting the Pieces Together" -- "Four Types of Resources" This Book Examines Patterns Of Political Engagement Of Long-term Unemployed Youth. The Authors Show How Unemployment Affects The Personal, Social, And Political Life Of Young People. Focusing On The Case Of Geneva In Switzerland, The Study Shows The Importance Of Socioeconomic, Relational, Psychological, And Institutional Resources For The Political Engagement Of Unemployed Youth. The Book Shows Specifically How The Relationship Between Unemployment And The Political Engagement Of Unemployed Youth Is Mediated By A Number Of Factors: Their Socioeconomic Status And More Generally Their Individual Background, Their Level Of Deprivation And The Associated Degree Of Subjective Well-being; The Social Capital That Unemployed Youth Draw From Involvement In Voluntary Associations And Interpersonal Networks And Relations, And The Political Learning Stemming From Interactions With Welfare Institutions And Their Perception Of Such Interactions. Introduction -- The Political Engagement Of Unemployed Youth -- Individual Background And Socioeconomic Status -- Deprivation And Subjective Well-being -- Social Networks And Social Capital -- Welfare State And Political Learning -- Putting The Pieces Together -- Conclusion. Marco Giugni, Jasmine Lorenzini. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 129-143). Front Matter....Pages i-viii Introduction....Pages 1-15 The Political Engagement of Unemployed Youth....Pages 17-29 Individual Background and Socioeconomic Status....Pages 31-46 Deprivation and Subjective Well-Being....Pages 47-62 Social Networks and Social Capital....Pages 63-77 Welfare State and Political Learning....Pages 79-95 Putting the Pieces Together....Pages 97-107 Conclusion....Pages 109-120 Back Matter....Pages 121-143