The political participation of young people in times of crisis : a framework for analysis

This chapter highlights the contribution of social movement studies to the analysis of the political participation of young people in times of crisis. It identifies the reasons that motivate the young population to engage in alternative, sometimes disruptive, forms of collective action. It also explores their forms of engagement, looking at the repertoires of action and the organizational models. We first present some evidence on the important role young people have played and play in various social movements. Next, we look at explanations of their high propensity to participate in protests and present explanations in terms of cohorts and generations. We then explore the political and social context for protests, delving into the organizational forms and the repertoires of collective action of the youth. Finally, we reflect upon the main implications of these developments for social movement scholarship and youth studies, and trace the avenues for further research.