The form and meaning of young people's involvement in community and political work

Abstract

Why are some young people actively involved in political parties, community groups, or associations? What do they have in common? These are some of the questions that underlie a qualitative research project on involvement carried out among 50 young Canadian activists residing in the province of Quebec. In this article, the author discusses the activist trajectory followed by these young adults and explains the characteristics and meaning of their involvement. For all of them, the cause is more important than the group, as are the more practical aspects of politics. Their viewpoint is similar to that of young people in general who wish to reinforce direct democracy and bring elected officials and citizens closer together. As a whole, the author demonstrates that their involvement practices correspond with a search for ethical consistency (that) aims to give meaning to the values that are adhered to both individually and collectively. © 2008 Sage Publications.