Political participation for under-represented youth and migrants Armin King (c) 2009 Assuming scourge Note that in participatory arrangements, especially the "usual suspects" (Scourge 2008: 35) are involved and not, as desired all social and age groups, then the question comes into focus, funded and under what circumstances political participation in previously under-represented groups can be.
Gaiser, Gillespie and de Rijke have investigated the participation of adolescents and young adults in politics. Their initial hypothesis assumes that "politics as art, culture and religion to the less important areas of life for young people in West and East" (Gaiser / Gille de Rijke 2006:214) belongs. They are based on the results of the three waves of the DJI Youth Survey 1992, 1997 and 2003. Despite a rather low interest of young people in politics, the authors concluded that whole "not talking about a decline of political interest or political engagement among adolescents and young adults in the past 15 years" (Gaiser / Gille de Rijke, 2006: 231 ) could. Thus, the willingness to participate in elections is still very high (92%).
But other forms of political participation for young people have their appeal - at least in theory. At the head of the answers lie in the possible involvement of petitions (80%), in unauthorized demonstrations (60%), bodies of participation in companies, schools and training facilities (54%) and in discussions at public events (46%). It followed the participation in trade union strikes (41%), participation in citizen initiatives (35%), emails to politicians and writing letters (each 31%). (Gaiser / Gille de Rijke, 2006: 223-224; DJI Youth Survey 2003).
The actual activity rates are substantially lower. This applies in particular to the active party work, involvement in political groups and the acquisition of an office, which was perceived by each 2% of young people surveyed. The highest value of sympathy for young people enjoy peace initiatives, the environment, Third World and welfare, followed by district- and neighborhood groups (DJI Youth Survey 2003). This proves that local initiatives definitely have the potential to reach young people.
In summary, the authors:
"Young people are not thereafter be organized and structured, attractive by time duration and regularity marked forms of participation, but rather flexible, temporary, and in connection with special occasions standing organization. Motivating greater the opportunities for social interaction and the 'action' with peers and peers. , Actions rather than talk ', flexible and simple, little hierarchical structures and actions in which the effectiveness of political action in the goals as well as in the 'fun' of collective action is a direct experience are desirable. The content itself should have something to do with the topics of interest to the young people themselves and they also really relate to '. " (Gaiser / Gille de Rijke, 2006: 230) this school can play an important role as a mediator. Whether it may increase the willingness to participate in that institutionalized forms of participation be extended to students, is a question for the authors, which one would have to analyze differentiation. "The empirical Results of the DJI Youth Survey refer any case that those young people who are active in extra-curricular contexts of school, and beyond the school committed and politically active are "(Gaiser / Gille de Rijke, 2006: 231). To more participation for students their schools encourages their commitment to the community.
The Austrian Parliament has made the political participation of young people in the heart of its democracy work place in 2007. The possibilities of participation of young people are now very different. Lender, who was involved in the project distinguishes between institutional and formalized participation, special projects, participation especially at local and regional level, eParticipation by electronic information and communication technologies and target group-specific participation. This rich today but no longer.
Lender sees in terms of participation projects for a paradigm shift: "Dedicated, participation projects soft 'more and more the approach that young people in any project should be involved in any decision that relates to their lifestyles." (Lender 2007: 8) Just the Web offer "completely new forms of self-organization for young people" (Lender 2007: 10). It needed, however, "still many efforts, participation as a standard in Austria introduce "(Lender 2007: 10). The reward, however: "Where young people are challenged and supported, they often show a high potential, interest and commitment." (Lender 2007: 10)
young people "spend most of their time in school education and training institutions" (Böhnisch 2008: 33), but there are only playing a part from their social life, which is also protected in particular. "Schools have their own lives, but they are not life itself" (Lender 2007: 10), has Aurin in a modification of the classical Seneca sentence 'non vitae sed scholae DISCIMUS "was determined. Who would nonetheless like to young people not only for school but for life to learn, they need to offer opportunities for participation that make sense and fun (Moser 2008: 79). "Accept the school youth as actors who make their actions or participation" For Böhnisch must (Böhnisch 2008: 38). It could contribute to "a platform for - citizenship - at least informal" to be. was discussed
on these issues in March 2007 at an international conference under the theme "Young people shape their future in the community by" (see Ködelpeter / Nitschke 2008). Were involved in youth researchers and practitioners from Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Brazil. The focus was the question of how young people react to social change and how to control their own living environment. Presented numerous projects in which young people can participate, such as the establishment of participatory budgeting in Marzahn-Hellersdorf in Bremen-Tenever (Quarter Budget) and in Brazilian cities like Porto Alegre and Sao Paulo, in planning the future of Augsburg, Bobingen and Weyarn, spatial planning ("young people need space - space for young people") in a large housing estate in Hamburg or in the qualification for participation processes. The participation of young people is not only theoretically, but also practically feasible and apparently also promising.
conflict pregnancies is the theme of "Youth, Participation and Migration (Geisen / Riegel 2008) in the" tension between participation and exclusion "(ibid.). The starting point is the discussion of everyday conflicts and with migrants, such as at the Berlin Rütli school.
The authors present a "one-sided problem-centered perception of young people with migration background" (Geisen / Riegel 2008: 8) with a differentiated view of the opportunities and limits of integration and participation. The central question, "how young people from immigrant backgrounds these social-cultural . Participation in itself subjectively realized as successful may "(Geisen / Tie 2008: 20) It will not conceal that this task is complicated by the risk of poverty, racism and some unprofessional conduct in social work (Geisen / Tie, 2008: 21). The authors note several deficiencies in the practical work and theoretical evaluation of the bulky topic. "However, in the papers also showed that about individual and social learning processes that include a critical reflection of the actual social conditions that overcome existing limitations and new possibilities of participation can be developed. (Geisen / Riegel 2008: 23-24)
Otten, rich and Schöning Calendar gives in a research report which analyzes "participation and position of migrants and their organizations in Rhineland-Palatinate" (Otten et al. 2007). Background of the project are more recent approaches to migration research emanating from Germany as an immigration country. "From an active participation lived an important function for social integration and the mediation between cultures" (Otten et al 2007: 1.) Expects at least assume that it holds appropriate potentials. The authors express the view that "self-determined and self-organized advocacy of migrants in their own organizations and institutions to the demands of social and political participation with respect for and appreciation of different cultural lifestyles and values be justified "(Otten et al. 1). They require "backing and active support of local politics" (Otten et al 2007. 88) for immigrant organizations, a "[k] ommunales suffrage as a way to normality" (Otten et al, 2007 89) and the institutionalization of the partnership between locals and migrants (Otten et al 2007: 88-89).
are necessary continuity and sustainability. Currently is a positive relationship Representations of migrants depends primarily on individuals, "who through long years of association experience, good relations with the local politics and a certain professional approach characterized the developments" (Otten et al 2007. 86).
characterized Overall Otten, rich and Schöning calendar picture, "that the underlying trend rather pragmatic cooperation and mutual appreciation as characterized by exclusion and non-disclosures." Relieved (ibid) is cooperating Where in fact, the cooperation, the "understanding of the needs, problems and opportunities of the other person "(ibid). This applies to the Municipalities on the one hand and the Migrantenorgansiationen other.
The migrant organizations seie now accepted as a governance actors in the local policy arena. They would have an integration function for its members, bundled interests, served as cultural mediators, but could also be a vehicle to stand out from other groups and cultural communities to define Otten et al. 2007: 66). Discussed will also have the opportunity to generate social capital through the local councils (Otten et al 2007. 69).
One aspect that is directly related to the demographic change has been so far paid little attention, but has considerable significance: the image of the actual population in the representative electoral system. This notice Otten, rich and Schöning-calendar: "Demographic change and the changing population structures in the cities and municipalities without a change in electoral map less and less the real conditions in the population. Many parties and politicians have already recognized this and suspect that migrants in the case of a municipal election law would soon be a sought-after groups of voters. "(Otten et al 2007: 89).
Against this background, participation opportunities in the pre-political local space in framework of governance arrangements of particular interest.
Literature: Böhnisch, Lothar (2008): Youth living conditions, social change and youth participation. In: Ködelpeter, Thomas Nitschke, Ulrich (ed.): Young people plan and design worlds: participation in response to social change. Wiesbaden: VS-Verlag. P. 25-40.
German Youth Institute (DJI) (2003): Youth Survey 2003 (3rd wave).
Gaiser, Wolfgang / Gille, Martina / de Rijke, Johann (2006): Political participation of youth and young adults. In: Hoecker, Beate (ed.): Political Participation between convention and protest. A study-based introduction. Opladen: Barbara Budrich.
scourge, Brigitte (2008): Why democratization of democracy? Criteria for evaluating participatory arrangements. In: Vetter, Angelika (ed.) (2008): Success of local conditions Bürgerbeteili supply. Wiesbaden. VS Verlag. P. 29-48.
Gille, Martina / Sardei-Biermann, Sabine / Gaiser, W., Rijke, Johan de (ed.) (2006): Adolescents and young adults in Germany. Living conditions, values and social participation 12 - to 29-year-old. (= Results for the third wave of the DJI Youth Survey 2003) Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften.
Ködelpeter, Thomas Nitschke, Ulrich (ed.) (2008): Young people plan and design worlds: participation in response on social change. Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften.
Lender, Robert (2007): From Join the conversation down to self-design. Participation opportunities for children and adolescents in Austria. In: Republic of Austria, Parliamentary Administration (ed.): The political participation of young people and the democracy workshop of the Parliament. Supplement to Journal of Law Policy No. 4 / 2007. Vienna, p. 8-10.
Moser, Sonja (2008): "participation, as we see it": social participation from the perspective of young people. In: Ködelpeter, Thomas Nitschke, Ulrich (ed.): Young people plan and design worlds: participation in response to social change. Wiesbaden: VS. P. 77-86.
Otten, Matthias / Reich, Hans H. Schöning calendar, Claudia (2007): Innovative partnerships contribute productively. Participation of immigrants: perspectives for Rhineland-Palatinate. In: Meeting point - Journal of the State Commissioner for Migration and Integration in Rheinland-Pfalz 2 / 2007, p. 1-7.
Otten, Matthias / Reich, Hans H. Schöning calendar, Claudia (2008): Participation and posi-tion of migrants and their organizations in Rhineland-Palatinate. Research Report to the State Commissioner for Migration and Integration in Rhineland-Palatinate. Mainz.
