Education and Civic Engagement among Norwegian Youth

Abstract

What role does formal education play in the political socialization of youth? The article presents findings from a national survey in 2002 of more than 11,000 youths aged 13–19 in Norway. Indicators of political socialization are: an index of expressed interest in politics and social issues, participation in membership organizations of a political kind, political activism, and unlawful forms of political protest. Except for unlawful forms of protest, interest in politics and social issues, and actual participation, increase with educational achievement and especially with ambition for higher education. But all forms of political participation (but not mere interest in politics) increase with greater than average conflict with teachers and school authority. These findings persist after controls for social class, parental education, and political socialization in the family.