Roots of Civic Identity: International Perspectives on Community Service and Activism in Youth [Hardcover]

Miranda Yates (Editor), James Youniss (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 13, 1998 | ISBN-10: 0521622832 | ISBN-13: 978-0521622837 | Edition: 1

This book brings together an international collection of essays that describes the state of community participation among the world's youth. Authors from around the globe use fresh empirical data to present portraits of contemporary youths constructing their civic identities through such means as community service and political activism. The image of "Generation X" as socially disconnected and apathetic is contradicted by young people's efforts to comprehend the complexities of society and to work toward the realization of social-moral ideals. The findings in this volume contribute to a theory of political socialization that bases youth's understanding of political aspects of society and citizenship on participation in community and civic activities, rather than on the intake of abstract pieces of formal information. To this end, youth seek to resolve ideological tensions, such as in Northern Ireland and the Middle East; to overcome corrupting political practices, such as in Italy and Taiwan; to deal with disillusionment, such as in the emerging Eastern European nations; and to bridge barriers against youth's meaningful participation in the working of society, such as in Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Researchers in a wide array of fields, including psychology, sociology, political science, and education will find this book to be a valuable resource.

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

New empirical data are used to present portraits of youth's political socialization in Canada, former West Germany, former eastern bloc Soviet nations, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Palestine, Scandinavia, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The chapters focus on the community service and civic activities which encourage youth to reflect societies' complexities, tensions, and ideals and can potentially promote active citizenship. In contradiction to images such as 'generation X', the chapters show contemporary youth from a range of countries grappling to understand the workings of their society and desiring to participate meaningfully in helping society to achieve its ideals- two requisites of healthy civic identity.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 305 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press; 1 edition (November 13, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521622832
• ISBN-13: 978-0521622837
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,458,128 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)