Young People’s Participation : Revisiting Youth and Inequalities in Europe

Young people's participation is an urgent policy and practice concern across countries and context. This book showcases original research evidence and analysis to consider how, under what conditions and for what purposes young people participate in different parts of Europe. Focusing on the interplay between the concepts of youth, inequality and participation, this book explores how structural changes, including economic austerity, neoliberal policies and new patterns of migration, affect the conditions of young people's participation and its aims. With contributions from a range of subject experts, including young people themselves, the book challenges current policies and practices on young people's participation. It asks how young people can be better supported to take part in social change and decision-making and what can be learnt from young people's own initiatives.|Young people's participation is an urgent policy and practice concern across countries and context. This book showcases original research evidence and analysis to consider how, under what conditions and for what purposes young people participate in different parts of Europe. Focusing on the interplay between the concepts of youth, inequality and participation, this book explores how structural changes, including economic austerity, neoliberal policies and new patterns of migration, affect the conditions of young people's participation and its aims. With contributions from a range of subject experts, including young people themselves, the book challenges current policies and practices on young people's participation. It asks how young people can be better supported to take part in social change and decision-making and what can be learnt from young people's own initiatives. Front Cover Copyright information Table of contents List of figures and tables Notes on contributors Acknowledgments 1 Revisiting young people’s participation: an introduction Participation Youth Inequality Outline of the book Notes References Part I Young people’s experiences of participation and engagement 2 Cultural activism against inequalities: the experience of Quaderni Urbani in Bologna Project history Theoretical assumptions, purposes and methodologies of the project Project work and its social impact Metropolitan Snapshots (open workshop, May 2018) Voices for Mediterranea (thematic reading, April 2019) Examples of external collaborations (2018–19) Conclusions: on sustainability and the role of militancy References 3 It’s okay to think freely: how participation changed us Introduction Myada’s story Katherine’s story Christina’s story Snapshot one Snapshot two Snapshot three Discussion Relationships Space Conclusion Notes References 4 Frontrunners Against Inequality: the stories of Darpan and Barwago Barwago’s participatory journey Darpan’s participatory journey Note Part II Current state and conditions for young people’s participation: critiques and trends 5 Bounded agency and social participation: how socioeconomic situation and experiences influence young people’s way of engaging Introduction The PROMISE concept of social participation Agency and personal efficacy Barriers to social participation Enablers of social participation Data and methods Forms of youth social participation Activism Everyday engagement Helping others in a local context The role of personal efficacy for social participation of youth Determinants of young people’s feeling of efficacy Political efficacy as a determinant of youth social participation Barriers and enablers of youth social participation Barriers Enablers Conflict Comparing the effects of social position and life circumstances on agency Conclusion Disclaimer Notes References 6 From ideology to strategic engagement Key findings Introduction Ideological engagement Towards new forms of political engagement Knowledge, deliberation and involvement Political trust and reflexivity Conventional and unconventional political participation The reserved and strategic citizen Strategic participation, post-politics and inequality Note References 7 Digital participation and digital divides in a former socialist country Key findings Introduction Young people’s digital participation Context and data Methodological approach of MYPLACE The case of Estonia Youth participation in Tartu County and Ida-Viru County Digital participation, social media opportunities and digital divides Becoming informed and involved in political discussion Taking a stand and feeling engaged Digital divides and the relation between online and offline participation Conclusion Notes References 8 The participation project: how projects shape young people’s participation Key findings Introduction Facilitating young people’s participation through projects Methodology The two cases Disembedded bubbles of participatory activities Project bubbles as meaningful participatory spaces The detached quality of participatory bubbles Unequal access to participate Project-based participatory spaces and beyond References Part III Broadening participation: young people’s own approaches to participation 9 Young Italians and the crisis: emerging trends in activism and self-organisation Key findings Introduction Methodology and presentation of the experiences From the crisis to self-organisation: young people’s reaction to inequalities From fortresses to squares: changes in youth self-organisation through social centres From claiming to prefiguring: a new position towards institutions Conclusion Notes References 10 Justifying self-organisation: between inequality and critique Key findings Introduction Existing perspectives on youth, participation and alternative forms of organisation Following young people there ... there ... and there Justifying informal competencies Questioning predefined logics of time and space Getting the right to participatory place: possibilities and constraints Conclusion Note References 11 Advocacy and participation: young people with autism spectrum disorder and their experiences with statutory casework Key findings Introduction ASD: a particular vulnerability Statutory casework in Denmark On participation and advocacy About the study Experiences of recognition Communication and social interaction Denial of voice The importance of advocacy Conclusion Notes References 12 Young people seeking asylum: voice and activism in a ‘hostile environment’ Key findings Introduction The UK’s ‘hostile environment’ The current study Living in the hostile environment: ‘the system’ Making the ‘Faceless’ seen and heard “It is because of your society that we fade into the background” Participation, collective action and a new democracy Making a collective space for personal-political politics Voice and activism in hostile environment Notes References Part IV New opportunities for young people’s participation: facilitating new forms of youth participation 13 Meaningful, effective and sustainable? Challenges for children and young people’s participation Key findings Introduction Young people’s participation in the human rights field Knowledge production Legitimacy and credibility Conclusion Acknowledgements Notes References 14 Journey mapping as a method to make sense of participation Key findings Qualitative, participatory-driven research methods ‘On the edge’ as a position produced through complex transactions Our use of journey mapping in two qualitative studies Three examples of the benefits of journey mapping Mapping the relationship between affect, place and time in participation The composition of an immense and inaccessible chaos What do young people talk about when they talk about community? What kind of mapping is journey mapping and why does it matter? Final remarks: four qualities of journey mapping References 15 Playful walks: a methodological approach for analysing the embodied citizenship of young people in the countryside Key findings Introduction Being playful in research Multimedia methods: a research approach Table of activity Multimedia methods as playful ways to disrupt power Keeping things complicated Conclusion Notes References 16 Transformative participation in the lifeworlds of marginalised youth: learning for change Key findings Participation of marginalised youth: contesting orthodoxies and assumptions Towards a theory of transformative participation Developing a critical epistemology of youth praxis Learning for participation in everyday contexts From educator to facilitator: the role of the professional Transformative participation with marginalised young people: a Danish case study Discussion Conclusion Notes References 17 Revisiting young people’s participation and looking ahead: concluding remarks Introduction Where are we now – and where are we going? Understanding the landscapes of participation Looking ahead? Note References Index Back Cover Front Cover -- Copyright Information -- Table Of Contents -- List Of Figures And Tables -- Notes On Contributors -- Acknowledgments -- 1 Revisiting Young People's Participation: An Introduction -- Participation -- Youth -- Inequality -- Outline Of The Book -- Notes -- References -- Part I Young People's Experiences Of Participation And Engagement -- 2 Cultural Activism Against Inequalities: The Experience Of Quaderni Urbani In Bologna -- Project History -- Theoretical Assumptions, Purposes And Methodologies Of The Project -- Project Work And Its Social Impact Metropolitan Snapshots (open Workshop, May 2018) -- Voices For Mediterranea (thematic Reading, April 2019) -- Examples Of External Collaborations (2018-19) -- Conclusions: On Sustainability And The Role Of Militancy -- References -- 3 It's Okay To Think Freely: How Participation Changed Us -- Introduction -- Myada's Story -- Katherine's Story -- Christina's Story -- Snapshot One -- Snapshot Two -- Snapshot Three -- Discussion -- Relationships -- Space -- Conclusion -- Notes -- References -- 4 Frontrunners Against Inequality: The Stories Of Darpan And Barwago -- Barwago's Participatory Journey Darpan's Participatory Journey -- Note -- Part Ii Current State And Conditions For Young People's Participation: Critiques And Trends -- 5 Bounded Agency And Social Participation: How Socioeconomic Situation And Experiences Influence Young People's Way Of Engaging -- Introduction -- The Promise Concept Of Social Participation -- Agency And Personal Efficacy -- Barriers To Social Participation -- Enablers Of Social Participation -- Data And Methods -- Forms Of Youth Social Participation -- Activism -- Everyday Engagement -- Helping Others In A Local Context The Role Of Personal Efficacy For Social Participation Of Youth -- Determinants Of Young People's Feeling Of Efficacy -- Political Efficacy As A Determinant Of Youth Social Participation -- Barriers And Enablers Of Youth Social Participation -- Barriers -- Enablers -- Conflict -- Comparing The Effects Of Social Position And Life Circumstances On Agency -- Conclusion -- Disclaimer -- Notes -- References -- 6 From Ideology To Strategic Engagement -- Key Findings -- Introduction -- Ideological Engagement -- Towards New Forms Of Political Engagement -- Knowledge, Deliberation And Involvement Political Trust And Reflexivity -- Conventional And Unconventional Political Participation -- The Reserved And Strategic Citizen -- Strategic Participation, Post-politics And Inequality -- Note -- References -- 7 Digital Participation And Digital Divides In A Former Socialist Country -- Key Findings -- Introduction -- Young People's Digital Participation -- Context And Data -- Methodological Approach Of Myplace -- The Case Of Estonia -- Youth Participation In Tartu County And Ida-viru County -- Digital Participation, Social Media Opportunities And Digital Divides Edited By Maria Bruselius-jensen, Ilaria Pitti And E. Kay M. Tisdall. Becoming Informed And Involved In Political Discussion. Electronic Reproduction. Baltimore, Md Available Via World Wide Web. This book explores how young people across different European contexts participate in decision-making and foster changes on issues that concern them and their communities, giving new insights into discourses on young people's as active citizens across Europe. Young people's participation is an urgent policy and practice concern, across countries and context. This book showcases original research evidence and analysis to consider how, under what conditions and for what purposes young people participate in different parts of Europe. Focusing on the interplay between the concepts of youth, inequality and participation, this book explores how structural changes including economic austerity, neoliberal policies and new patterns of migration affect the conditions of young people's participation and its aims. With contributions from a range of subject experts, including young people themselves, the book challenges current policies and practices on young people's participation. It asks how young people can be better supported to take part in social change and decision-making and what can be learnt from young people's own initiatives

Young people's participation is an urgent policy and practice concern across countries and context. This book showcases original research evidence and analysis to consider how, under what conditions and for what purposes young people participate in different parts of Europe. Focusing on the interplay between the concepts of youth, inequality and participation, this book explores how structural changes, including economic austerity, neoliberal policies and new patterns of migration, affect the conditions of young people's participation and its aims. With contributions from a range of subject experts, including young people themselves, the book challenges current policies and practices on young people's participation. It asks how young people can be better supported to take part in social change and decision-making and what can be learnt from young people's own initiatives.