Cultural Displacement or Disaffection? Reassessing Young Citizens, New Media and Civic Engagement Brian D. Loader University of York, UK

Overview of Young Citizens & Civic Engagement in New Media Age Explore issues within a binary framework - disaffection/ cultural displacement Not exhaustive and may not be robust Former more conservative/liberal, latter associated with radical democratic models.

Disaffection Perspective Orthodox political theory regards young citizens as ‘disaffected’ Low voter turnout, don’t join parties & low opinion of politicians Ironically such perceived apathy exists when young people have more access to political information.

Cultural Displacement Young people may not be disaffected with politics but may be displaced from formal political sphere. Disjuncture between trad. Political activity which are restrictive & modes of expression which privilege identity (Giddens), lifestyle diversity, individualisation & liquidity (Bauman)

Contrasts Disaffected emphasizes formal politics - Displacement focusses upon broad view of the political Displacement foregrounds diversity, identity, contestation rather than essentialist notions of citizenship & community Displacement therefore acknowledges that young people are heterogenious and subject to unequal power relations - reflected in digital divide.

Mobilization & Socialisation Two approaches produce contrasting directions for engaging young people. Disaffection - no significant change in political style is required - new media can be used to re-connect young people - Retain the old and change young people Citizenship education, politicians iPod playlists and celebrity TV performances

Contemporary Youth Culture Displacement - trad politics contrasts with self expression, personal disclosure of youth culture media environment - Myspace, Facebook, Flikker, texting & blogging These spaces/places are also political? (Beck’s subpolitics?) Not displacement from the real world of politics but displacement of trad politics by new political cultures.

Displacement as Aspiration? E-dem has been disappointing Evidence for online engagement may be thin - Livingstone Displacement may be more characterized by social fragmentation & escapism rather than new forms of activism. New media may foster easy exit, consumer democracy.

Towards Radical Model of Engagement? Such a model would require transformation of political system itself. Enables variety of spaces/places which include civil, market and state at different levels? Not displacement into dreamland or replacement of rep. politics but re-articulation of democratic relations New network spaces for efficacy?

Community Network Spaces? Local democratic spaces – national too remote Diverse social backgrounds may need local understandings Interactivity may be more likely at local level Political stakeholders responding to community spaces

Citizenship Education Spaces E-Mock Elections Content Creation – videos, digital art, music Humour Genuine engagement with stake holders – power, respect, responsibility & deliberation

Re-articulating democratic engagement Citizenship Ed. needs to address new media orientated youth culture Global/national issues more relevant when localised Not just schools but also… …local network spaces