1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910452443703321

Autore

Banaji Shakuntala <1971->

Titolo

The civic web : young people, the Internet and civic participation / / Shakuntala Banaji and David Buckingham

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Cambridge, Massachusetts : , : MIT Press, , [2013]

©2013

ISBN

0-262-31781-8

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (203 p.)

Collana

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation series on digital media and learning

Altri autori (Persone)

BuckinghamDavid <1954->

Disciplina

004.67/80835

Soggetti

Youth - Political activity

Internet and youth

Internet - Political aspects

Electronic books.

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Description based upon print version of record.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

Defining the issues -- Researching the civic web -- Producing the civic web -- Young people online and offline -- The young civilians -- Politics online -- Making civic identities -- Conclusion.

Sommario/riassunto

An investigation of how governments, organizations, and groups use the Internet to promote civic and political engagement among young people. There has been widespread concern in contemporary Western societies about declining engagement in civic life; people are less inclined to vote, to join political parties, to campaign for social causes, or to trust political processes. Young people in particular are frequently described as alienated or apathetic. Some have looked optimistically to new media--and particularly the Internet--as a means of revitalizing civic life and democracy. Governments, political parties, charities, NGOs, activists, religious and ethnic groups, and grassroots organizations have created a range of youth-oriented websites that encourage widely divergent forms of civic engagement and use varying degrees of interactivity. But are young people really apathetic and lacking in motivation? Does the Internet have the power to re-engage those disenchanted with politics and civic life? Based on a major



research project funded by the European Commission, this book attempts to understand the role of the Internet in promoting young people's participation. Examples are drawn from Hungary, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, and the United Kingdom--countries offering contrasting political systems and cultural contexts. The book also addresses broader questions about the meaning of civic engagement, the nature of new forms of participation, and their implications for the future of civic life.