Anne Muxel, Research Director at CNRS, Center for Political Research (CEVIPOF/Sciences Po Paris)
European democracies have become more reflective and the links that ordinary citizens establish with the political system are more individualised than in the more recent past. More and more, political involvement takes place by means of many different types of expression and action. The civic norm linked to the duty to vote has weakened and abstention continues to become more widespread. And no doubt, the endemic economic crisis that many European countries have to face hits political attitudes and behaviour.
This new political context has led to what some have seen as a crisis in citizenship. However, these transformations can be interpreted in another way and seen more as a sign of the emergence of a new model of citizenship than as a democratic deficit. In France, these trends can be observed among the young in general, but there is a clear division between young people with and without qualifications.
This paper will present the empirical results from quantitative and electoral surveys conducted in France at the CEVIPOF. What is so special about young people’s electoral behaviour in the French context? How can we explain that the most attractive political party in France today among the youth is the National Front? What are the chances of a so-called “political resilience” within the young generations despite their deep mistrust towards politicians and representative democracy?
