Youth and Political Participation : A Reference Handbook

Linking the level of political participation to the health of a democratic system, many political researchers and activists have expressed concern about the low level of participation among those aged 18 to 30. Youth and Political Participation: A Reference Handbook sheds light on this important subject, identifying and discussing factors that have influenced youth political participation in the past and those that play a role today. This thorough exploration of youth political participation in the United States examines such influences as the mass media, political parties, and interest groups. Formal and informal rules of political activity and individual attitudes toward political engagement are also explored, and the United States is contrasted with other democracies. Although the book covers its subject from the early years of the Republic to the present, particular attention is given to protest politics of the 1960s, the campaign for the 18-year-old vote, and records of voting participation following the 1971 passage of the 26th Amendment granting that right.