New Report: Civic and Political Health of a Nation

Posted by on December 6, 2002

[Service-Learning Advances newsletter]

The Civic and Political Health of the Nation: A Generational Portrait, published by the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) at the University of Maryland, in collaboration with the Pew Charitable Trusts. This survey of 3,250 people ages 15 and older describes the civic and political involvement of youth, compared with their adult counterparts. The study measures a number of civic activities, from electoral participation and volunteerism to consumer activism–the practice of making retail decisions (whether to buy or not to buy a product) based on political and social concerns. The study suggests that young people are much more likely to support government action and are just as engaged in civic activities as are members of older generations, but youth in the US are less likely to trust others and participate in electoral politics. Further information and results are available online at http://www.civicyouth.org/research/products/youth_index.htm. To order printed copies of the report, contact CIRCLE by phone at 301-405-2790, or email ds300@umail.umd.edu.