POLITICAL AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION
16 -17 April, 2012 University of Surrey
In many countries, conventional forms of political participation have declined in recent years, with growing levels of political apathy, disengagement from formal democratic processes and increasing distrust of, and lack of confidence in, political institutions. At the same time, however, research suggests that a shift is currently taking place among younger generations, with civic participation coming to be prioritised over more traditional forms of political participation. As a result, issues that might have mobilised individuals into taking political action in the past are now being tackled instead by many young people either via voluntary, community or charitable activities, or via consumer activism.
This conference aims to take stock of the numerous factors which can impact on the different forms of citizen participation, will explore how political, sociological and psychological factors inter-relate, and will draw out implications for policies which have as their goal the enhancement of levels of political and civic participation. The conference also aims to examine the factors and processes which impact on levels of participation among marginalised groups that are at risk of political disengagement due to age, gender, ethnicity or migration. For this reason, papers focusing on either young people, women, ethnic minorities or migrants are especially encouraged.
Hence, this conference seeks to provide an opportunity for interdisciplinary discussion and debate on:
- the different forms of political and civic participation which exist
- the factors and processes which enhance and/or hinder the different forms of participation
- forms and levels of participation within different national, ethnic and migrant groups
- forms and levels of political and civic participation among women
- forms and levels of political and civic participation by youth
- policy interventions which can be used to increase levels of political and civic participation within particular societal settings
This is the second international multidisciplinary conference organised by the PIDOP Consortium. For details of the first PIDOP conference held in Bologna, Italy, in May 2011, please see http://www.pidop.unibo.it/.