Young people and citizenship: An everyday perspective

This article addresses the changing nature of civic and political engagement for young people in Australia. It draws on recent research that explores youth engagement from the perspective of changing life patterns which see the current generation making adult choices in a highly individualised context. This approach is highly relevant for the study of youth engagement because it opens up the possibility of recognising new civic and political practices. If young people are no longer experiencing continuous, structured identities and predictable life trajectories, what does this mean for their participation in civic and political life?