In his dissertation Fostering active citizenship in young adulthood: the predictive value of citizenship competences, socialization experiences and academic performance in adolescence, Slijkhuis examined the extent to which the citizenship competences of 14-year-olds predict their participation in society and the political process seven years later, when they are 21-year-old young adults. The research shows that the civic knowledge of 14-year-olds predicts political participation at the age of 21.
Citizenship in education
Slijkhuis’s dissertation shows that by promoting civic knowledge, schools can indirectly contribute to citizens’ active participation in the political process. This research therefore underlines the importance of continuing to pay attention to citizenship education in primary and secondary education.
Fewer and fewer people are members of a political party. This development is most clearly visible among young adults. Since 2006, schools in the Netherlands have been required to actively promote citizenship and the social integration of pupils. This prepares young people to participate in political and social activities.
Measuring political engagement
This is not limited to conventional political activities, such as being active in a political party. Young people are increasingly making use of other forms of political participation, such as taking part in a protest march or engaging in online discussions on discussion forums. In his research, Slijkhuis also included these forms of participation when measuring the political engagement of young adults.
Rapping about politics
Nikki Udo of the Netherlands Youth Institute appreciates that the research examined the different forms in which political engagement can manifest itself. “Adults often still fail to recognise these ways in which young people demonstrate their political and social engagement. Yet these forms of engagement are just as valuable. Examples include rapping with a political message or posting videos on social media in which young people express their concerns about climate change.”
Well-being
Active citizenship contributes to the functioning of society in the long term and to young people’s well-being, says Udo. “Teachers and other adults in young people’s environment have an important role to play in this. Make sure that children and young people experience that their opinions matter. Ask young people questions about social issues: ‘What do you think about this? Why? What would you change?’ Such questions challenge young people to think along about solutions to social issues.”