StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Youth Political Engagement - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
This essay "Youth Political Engagement" discusses the progress of a nation that relies on the model of democracy and how people understand their civic duties. Young people are at the forefront as they do things differently from the traditional way and disseminating media…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER91.2% of users find it useful

Extract of sample "Youth Political Engagement"

Civic education is critical in ensuring there is survival of constitutional democracy. Exposing the high school-going students to the civic world early provides a platform that will prepare them to understand the democratic values .civics in high school teach students about government and citizenship. The basic understanding of politics, government, history of the country, and civic life creates avenues to molding informed citizens. The state of civic education has not reached the desired threshold.

Apparently, most students are ignorant of their democratic rights and understanding civic duties that foster liberty and ensure they understand the majority rule and the need to protect the minority rights. According to Dalton (2009), people have become more aware of their democratic rights. Ideally, people drive the process of achieving democracy. This is based on the thoughts and desires of how people want the government to operate. The different political issues require the consent of the electorate.

The penetration of civic understanding into high schools has greatly improved based on the increased participation of young people in the citizenry and desire to know about their government. The Russell Dalton book offers insights on citizen’s politics and offers comparative studies of behavior and political attitudes in France, Germany, the United States, and Great Britain. The new wave of activists used by youth includes the internet-based activism where information is passed to people regarding the democratic process, criticisms, and revelation of various social evils tend to be effective.

The creation of online activists is effective given the penetration of information to diverse individuals and globalization.  The new political consumerism feeds people information on the civic rights and responsibilities in creating an ideal government and ensures there is value for the elections conducted (Dalton, 2009). The structure of the civic curriculum covers citizenship elements by ensuring the school curriculum offers the recommended civic education in high schools. The curriculum is integrated into the school system which takes over a semester and assesses students on their understanding of the various topics in civic education.

  The dynamics in the education system require the application of the current affairs in the political field to create a firm understanding of the structure of government and democracy process (Jenkins et al., 2016). Teaching political engagements in high schools is often challenging. The high school often has diverse students from different political backgrounds. Other issue arises when politics are discussed. For example, racial, gender, resource allocation arises. The sensitive topics require to be handled by experts lest they ignite hate among students (Dalton, 2009).

Civic education must be administered using laboratories for creating democracy.  Imparting knowledge to students about citizenship and government operations requires an ideal environment to ensure pupils get used to the process. This can be done through discussion and debating controversial topics and allowing disagreements respectively. The schools are ideologized zones that embrace diversity hence critical in engaging students in learning about civic education. Learning civic and engagement is legitimate in that criticism and support of various issues are allowed.

According to research by Dalton (2009), high school students who often discuss issues and are used to them are more likely to be politically engaged.  Current affairs play a role in understanding the issues surrounding everyone, this way; they are prepared for the future and understand why they need to vote.  Attitudes to accept people from different backgrounds are also supported by the various programs in administering civic education. It is, however, challenging to instill knowledge to the youth on the values of democracy if diversity is not appreciated.

Civic experiences require participants to understand the essence of citizenship. According to Henry Jenkins et al (2016), dominant elites take over the crucial institutions and public space hence have a network and social movements that are visible to the outside world. The internet age has seen growth in social movements, for example, Occupy Wall Street helped in expressing grassroots issues using a community network and creating a new political framework. The elites should follow the sense of the community that champions social bonds refine rhetoric and reconnecting with historical ideologies.

  The youth approach to civic education must follow the curriculum and address issues despite their sensitivity and allow youth to present their views. This will increase the interest of the youth to participate in fulfilling their civic duties and connect with the political class. People in the past were drawn into the private sphere and given the infrastructure in fostering democracy. The increasing skepticism geared towards disengagement in institutional forms should be addressed (Jenkins et al., 2016). Fostering democracy should be done through the practical process when electing student representatives.

Moreover, teach students the values of democracy and representation. Conclusively, it is paramount to create a robust democracy at an early stage to create responsible citizens.

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(Youth Political Engagement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words, n.d.)
Youth Political Engagement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words. https://studentshare.org/social-science/1892553-youth-political-engagement
(Youth Political Engagement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 Words)
Youth Political Engagement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 Words. https://studentshare.org/social-science/1892553-youth-political-engagement.
“Youth Political Engagement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 Words”. https://studentshare.org/social-science/1892553-youth-political-engagement.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Youth Political Engagement

Political Particpation and how it works in different forms of government

This is already a form of participation, as it is an engagement with 'affect' or outcomes measurable in whether or not an individual chooses a candidate.... Handbook of Research on Civic engagement in Youth.... Voter turn-out rates in the United States are among the worst in the developed world, and indeed, those political states where voting is commonplace.... Voter turn-out rates in the United s are among the worst in the developed world, and indeed, those political s where voting is commonplace....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Solving Employment Issues by Coalition Government in New Zealand

Different political parties therefore do have different frameworks of handling these different policies and when they come together to work, they have to rationalize the different policies that they have, to come to a binding and conclusive policy paper that clearly articulates how to deal with the issues (Spoonley, Dupuis, and Bruin, 2006).... Thus, this paper looks at the different positions held by the two political parties ha and how they will work for and against them in case they form a coalition government, and is biased to the issues of unemployment among youths in the country....
8 Pages (2000 words) Essay

Youth Violence Issues

"From a theoretical point of view it is inspired by assessments of how far individual nation states can hang on to their own sovereignty in the face of economic and political globalisation.... As violence is rising, youth violence is also playing a vital role.... bstract:Research of "international youth justice, punishment and control" are in the beginning stages but the cases of "globalisation, trans nationalisation, policy transfer and localisation are steadily being spoken about....
16 Pages (4000 words) Essay

Should the voting age in the UK be reduced to 16 years of age

Once you have the voting right, it means you have a straight say in who will take key decisions on matters that influence your life as a young person, such as educational expenses,… The issues of deciding minimum age to vote and at what age it should be set, are major political issues, because having the vote is broadly accepted as one of the most significant legal rights within a democracy.... People think that only people over eighteen are mature enough and actually take political issues seriously....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

Rules of Engagement

It analyses the lack of rapport between the civilian government and the military that existed then, and the frustration of the military… It was felt at the time that rules of engagement were designed more to serve a political purpose and thwart Soviet and Chinese intervention rather than to win the war.... Indeed many believe that the ROEs extended the war The Understanding of the Rules of engagement (ROEs), the limited war ideology and the assumptions as seen through different perspectives along the chain of command: Insert your name here....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Where in the world is Osama Bin Ladden

It exposes a nation to severe suffering because it affects the flow of commercial activities, social engagement and political integration.... This act is perpetrated with deliberate attempts to achieve pious, political or ideological goals.... He also stated that economies must also initiate viable economic programs to empower the youth and eradicate poverty at all levels to avert the spread terror....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Civil education research

The surprising thing is that the outcomes of civic education have been found to be more positive in such methods that encourage active engagement and identification with political issues (Hahn, 2010, p.... Again, civic knowledge and engagement in political discourse and activism is very low in young people from economically weaker families.... Each specific approach towards sensitizing young people regarding political issues is associated with its own peculiar outcomes and flaws. In the US, deliberate and intended… 7)....
1 Pages (250 words) Essay

Historical analysis of recent events

A practical case and instance in this respect and line of thought was the Libya case where there so many political prisoners.... It is important to note and mention that the Arab Spring took the violent and non-violent approach and was started in the year 2010 in… The kick start of the revolutions and mass protest was when a fruit vendor set himself ablaze in front of a government building....
4 Pages (1000 words) Research Paper
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us