Engaging Youth in Politics: Debating Democracy's Future

In recent years a growing debate has emerged over the political engagement of the young. From Australia, to North America, to Scandinavia, politicians and political analysts worry about young people's absence from the polls and the consequences for democracy if this trend continues. This collection of essays describes the changing patterns of youth political participation, inequalities in participation among various social groups, and what reforms might stimulate greater youth participation. Among the essays included are:

• The Youth Challenge: Participating in Democracy
• Electoral Turnout: The New Generation Gap
• The Young Vote: Engaging America's Youth in the 2008 Elections and Beyond
• Youth and Participation Beyond Elections
• The Internet and Youth Political Participation
• Youth At-Risk for Non-participation
• Civic Engagement and the Disadvantaged
• Building a Better Citizen
• Civic Learning in School 

Russell J. Dalton is professor of political science at the University of California, Irvine and was the founding director of the Center for the Study of Democracy at UC Irvine. His scholarly interests include public opinion, political parties, social movements, and political participation.