The political participation of Australian young people has been an oft bemoaned aspect of our society. However, this perceived sense of disengagement, encouraged by some sections of the media, differed substantially from my own experience. Thus, I was interested to evaluate whether it was correct to label Australian young people politically ‘apathetic’; that is, totally indifferent to the political process and their role within it………
…[Y]oung people of all socioeconomic backgrounds face significant difficulties in conceptualizing and interacting with politics on a level that is relevant and understandable to them…[However] it can be seen young people are finding different mediums for their political expression; away from mechanisms they often perceive as intimidating and inaccessible…. [M]erely because this interaction does not take place through traditional avenues associated with politics, such as membership of political parties or letter-writing, does not mean it does not constitute political engagement.
I found that rather than being politically apathetic and totally disengaged with the political process, Australian young people were cynical of the traditional political institutions, mechanisms and the personalities that inhabited this sphere. They are engaged with concrete political ‘issues’ rather than the abstract concept of ‘politics’.
|
