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Social Capital and Political Participation: Understanding the Dynamics of Young People's Political Disengagement in Contemporary Britain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 October 2007

Matt Henn ,
Mark Weinstein  and
Sarah Hodgkinson
Matt Henn
Affiliation:
Graduate School College of Business, Law and Social Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham E-mail: [email protected]
Mark Weinstein
Affiliation:
Graduate School College of Business, Law and Social Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham E-mail: [email protected]
Sarah Hodgkinson
Affiliation:
Department of Criminology, University of Leicester, Leicester E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Only 37 per cent of young people voted at the 2005 British General Election, seemingly confirming the oft-cited view that this generation is becoming increasingly disconnected from the political process. Results from a nationwide survey, however, indicate that their withdrawal from formal politics is more a result of their scepticism of the way the political system operates, than apathy. Furthermore, they are diverse in their political (dis)engagement. Results from an examination of the relative effects of socio-economic location and social capital are inconclusive, although the data indicate that government social policy aimed at mobilising social capital and addressing socio-economic issues may increase civic engagement.

Type
Articles
Information
Social Policy and Society , Volume 6 , Issue 4 , October 2007 , pp. 467 - 479
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2007

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