‘Yes We Can’: The Obama Effect - Youth Participation in Politics Introductions Do you intend to vote in the 2010 election? Do you participate in ‘politics’? The Obama Effect
Decline in conventional politics amongst young people 1) Trust: do you trust politicians? 2) Political marketing: who is politics aimed at? 3) Increasing risks: a job for life? 4) Growing cynicism: driven by the media? 5) Bowling alone: decline in civic life? 6) New values: importance of lifestyle politics?
Decline in Electoral Politics: voting and party membership
New Values, New Participation 1) Consumer politics: have you participated? 2) Membership of issue groups: have you joined? 3) Political Protest: Petitions? Demonstrations?
New Political Participation Interest Group Politics Consumer Politics Protest Politics
The Obama Effect – could it happen here? Young people/ students engaged (voted and campaigned) – why? Young people voted for Obama (about two thirds) – why? Could this happen in the UK – why? why not?
More Students Discussing Politics in the US
Increased Support for Liberal Causes: generational change
The Obama Effect – Young People in Politics in the UK Poor state of affairs – what can be done? Showing that politics is relevant? Making the voice of young people count? Making the ‘big society’ (‘all politics is local’)?