1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910828705603321

Autore

Gimpel James G

Titolo

Cultivating democracy [[electronic resource] ] : civic environments and political socialization in America / / James G. Gimpel, J. Celeste Lay, Jason E. Schuknecht

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Washington, D.C., : Brookings Institution Press, c2003

ISBN

0-8157-9614-5

Edizione

[1st ed.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (288 p.)

Altri autori (Persone)

LayJ. Celeste

SchuknechtJason E. <1973->

Disciplina

305.235

Soggetti

Youth - Political activity - United States

Students - United States - Political activity

Political socialization - United States

Youth - United States - Attitudes

Public opinion - United States

United States Politics and government Public opinion

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

Becoming political : local environments and political socialization -- Communities and political socialization -- Racial group membership, neighborhood context, and political socialization -- Party identification, political context, and political socialization -- Religion and political socialization -- Schools, civic education, and political socialization -- The terrorist attacks as politically socializing events -- Local contexts and the multiple futures of Generation Y.

Sommario/riassunto

Scholars across several social science disciplines have indicated that the behavior described by the term "civic engagement" is girded by a set of attitudes that show knowledge about, and positive evaluations of, government and politics. Drawing on extensive interviews with high school students from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds, Cultivating Democracy examines the sources of those attitudes, including individual characteristics, and the qualities of local environments that shape the experiences of late adolescence.   The authors gathered data on adolescent attitudes by interviewing students



in a wide variety of locations, from Baltimore's inner city and suburbs to the most affluent communities in Montgomery County, Maryland. Focusing initially on attitudes toward ethnic diversity and immigration, the authors expanded their focus to the political socialization of young people, including patriotism and political knowledge and participation.   The authors demonstrate how political socialization is shaped through the social messages presented to citizens by others. According to Gimpel, Lay, and Schuknecht, while formal education as a means of socializing youth is critically important, other useful means for communicating positive socializing messages, through political parties, elections, and the media, have been ignored. They recommend compensatory strategies to promote civic engagement among those who are at risk to be nonparticipants.