The inadequacy of concepts: the rise of youth interest in civic participation in Quebec [1

Abstract

Both public opinion and experts who analyse voting statistics contend nowadays that young people are losing interest in politics. But should political participation be confined to electoral participation? Could the expression ‘youth participation in political life’ be confusing? At present, we observe young people mobilizing within organizations meant to influence decision-making and power centres, and we further see growing numbers of demonstrations targeting a wide array of issues—from high school students clamouring for the maintenance of cultural activities, to anti-globalization demonstrations. These movements necessarily suggest broadening the concept of political participation to include activities beyond electoral participation alone. Some authors see a new political generation taking shape in this enthusiastic involvement. This is the central hypothesis of this paper. To illustrate this hypothesis, the limitations of certain participation indicators will be challenged and new forms of involvement described.