Young Londoners, sustainability and everyday politics: the framing of environmental issues in a global city

James Sloam

doi:10.1186/s42055-020-00036-z

Abstract

BackgroundYoung people have become disillusioned with mainstream electoral politics in established democracies, and are increasingly likely to engage in democracy on a case-by-case basis in issues that hold meaning for their everyday lives. These issues are most likely to be local and involve interconnected economic, social and environmental concerns.ResultsThe following study contributes to the understanding of the everyday politics of young people within a single urban environment (London) regarding sustainability-related issues. It departs from many previous studies of sustainability by employing a youth-centred approach, focussing on the authentic voices of young Londoners. The article shows how narrative structures can provide an effective way of understanding everyday politics and the interconnectedness of key issues through the words of these young people.ConclusionsThe analysis identifies young people’s relatively low prioritisation of most environmental issues – due to an overwhelming sense of economic precarity and a lack of opportunity to reflect upon the relevance of environmental issues for their everyday lives. The article emphasizes the importance of opening up spaces for deliberation and channels for youth engagement, to embed sustainability in global cities.

Highlights

Plain English summary Young people have become increasingly disillusioned with politics and political parties over a number of decades
They are much more like to be interested in issues than join political parties, and are interested in a wide range of subjects – from housing, to crime, to the environment
Young people have become increasingly disconnected from mainstream electoral politics in established democracies

Summary

Introduction

Young people have become increasingly disconnected from mainstream electoral politics in established democracies. Today’s young people tend to engage in democracy on a case-by-case basis in issues that hold meaning for their everyday lives [1] Their politics is shaped by ‘everyday experience’: these ‘everyday makers are project-oriented and want to deal with common (2020) 3:14 concerns concretely and personally rather than abstractly and ideologically ... Young people have become disillusioned with mainstream electoral politics in established democracies, and are increasingly likely to engage in democracy on a case-by-case basis in issues that hold meaning for their everyday lives. These issues are most likely to be local and involve interconnected economic, social and environmental concerns

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