Interdisciplinary Perspectives on the Politics of Adolescence and Democracy
Lead Research Organisation:
Royal Holloway University of London
Department Name: Psychology
Abstract
IP-PAD (Interdisciplinary Perspectives on the Politics of Adolescence & Democracy) aims to address a timely, pressing societal issue, namely the understanding of how young adolescent citizens process political information and how this affects their engagement with politics. Youth engagement with politics has always been crucial for the future of democracy as the adolescents of today become the voting citizens of tomorrow. Their political engagement seems even more important today as we have witnessed a decline in youth satisfaction with democracy, while at the same time the social and political challenges of climate change, misinformation, declining voter turnout, polarization and radicalization raise concerns about the future of liberal democracies in Europe. To address these aims, IP-PAD will integrate, for the first time, in a systematic, rigorous and mutually beneficial way two main areas of research: first, the extensive literature on youth political engagement from the perspective of political and social sciences; and second, the insights on the wide-ranging changes that occur in the adolescent brain, obtained from the fields of developmental psychology and neuroscience. While prolific in their own respect, these two perspectives have till now been kept separate. IP-PAD argues that a rigorous understanding of how adolescents process political information requires the integration of these two strands. IP-PAD will fill this gap by studying how the developing adolescent brain in the different sociopolitical contexts of five European countries underpins the emergence of the social, and eventually, political self. By integrating these two perspectives and in collaboration with three major European non-academic partners (European Youth Parliament, Gallup International, Counterpoint Global) IP-PAD will provide an in-depth interdisciplinary training to a young generation of social scientists in conducting open, rigorous, innovative and impactful research.
Organisations
- Royal Holloway University of London (Lead Research Organisation)
- Jagiellonian University (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- University of Vienna (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- Panteion University, Athens (Collaboration)
- University of Amsterdam (Collaboration)
- European Commission (Collaboration)
- National and Kapodistrian Univ of Athens (Project Partner)
- Counterpoint Global (Project Partner)
- Panteion University (Project Partner)
- Schwarzkopf Foudation Young Europe (Project Partner)
- University of Amsterdam (Project Partner)
- European Commission Joint Research Centr (Project Partner)
- Gallup International GmbH (Project Partner)
- Erasmus University Rotterdam (Project Partner)
People |
ORCID iD |
| Manos Tsakiris (Principal Investigator) |
| Description | In the run up to the national election of July 4th 2024, the UK team of the IP-PAD project, from Royal Holloway University of London, conducted a survey on a sample of 1000 young people aged 16 to 21 years old. The survey used a sample of 1000 young people aged 16 to 21, as part of the 'Interdisciplinary Perspectives on the Politics of Adolescence and Democracy' (IP-PAD) project. Almost half of the respondents (49%) are dissatisfied with how democracy works in UK. Dissatisfaction was even greater for the younger people aged 16-18 (52%) compared to the those aged 19-21 (47%). This could prove a concern for the next UK government and for democracy in the UK in general. Issues surrounding the participation of young people in political and social affairs have been debated during the election campaign. Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour party, suggested lowering the voting age for national elections to 16. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak set out a plan that would require 18-year-olds take part in a form of national service if the Conservatives form the next government. A recent YouGov survey from June 2024 that assessed the public's support for some of the key policy pledges of the parties showed that lowering the voting age to 16 was opposed by 59% of the respondents across all age groups. Similarly, 54% opposed the national service issue. However, these percentages mask important differences across age groups. Not surprisingly, it was the older respondents who strongly opposed the lowering of the voting age (79% of those aged 65+) and strongly supported a national service (60% of those aged 65+). For the voting age issue, the majority of those aged 18-24 supported the idea of allowing 16 year olds to vote and vehemently opposed national service. Different generations will have different views about policy issues but youth dissatisfaction with democracy poses risks for the future of the political system itself. Professor Manos Tsakiris, from the Department of Psychology at Royal Holloway, said: "Across many countries we are witnessing a decline in youth satisfaction with democracy, both in absolute terms but also relative to how older generations felt at the same stages in life. Inevitably, politicians and policy makers will have to work together with young people to figure out how this trend can be reversed." The IP-PAD Youth Survey UK also revealed that the ones who are less interested in politics are also the ones who are more likely to be dissatisfied. In the run up to the national election of July 4th 2024, the UK team of the IP-PAD project, from Royal Holloway University of London, conducted a survey on a sample of 1000 young people aged 16 to 21 years old. The survey used a sample of 1000 young people aged 16 to 21, as part of the 'Interdisciplinary Perspectives on the Politics of Adolescence and Democracy' (IP-PAD) project. Almost half of the respondents (49%) are dissatisfied with how democracy works in UK. Dissatisfaction was even greater for the younger people aged 16-18 (52%) compared to the those aged 19-21 (47%). This could prove a concern for the next UK government and for democracy in the UK in general. Issues surrounding the participation of young people in political and social affairs have been debated during the election campaign. Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour party, suggested lowering the voting age for national elections to 16. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak set out a plan that would require 18-year-olds take part in a form of national service if the Conservatives form the next government. A recent YouGov survey from June 2024 that assessed the public's support for some of the key policy pledges of the parties showed that lowering the voting age to 16 was opposed by 59% of the respondents across all age groups. Similarly, 54% opposed the national service issue. However, these percentages mask important differences across age groups. Not surprisingly, it was the older respondents who strongly opposed the lowering of the voting age (79% of those aged 65+) and strongly supported a national service (60% of those aged 65+). For the voting age issue, the majority of those aged 18-24 supported the idea of allowing 16 year olds to vote and vehemently opposed national service. Different generations will have different views about policy issues but youth dissatisfaction with democracy poses risks for the future of the political system itself. Professor Manos Tsakiris, from the Department of Psychology at Royal Holloway, said: "Across many countries we are witnessing a decline in youth satisfaction with democracy, both in absolute terms but also relative to how older generations felt at the same stages in life. Inevitably, politicians and policy makers will have to work together with young people to figure out how this trend can be reversed." The IP-PAD Youth Survey UK also revealed that the ones who are less interested in politics are also the ones who are more likely to be dissatisfied. Dr Kaat Smets from the Department of Politics, International Relations and Philosophy added: "Young people are less likely to participate in elections. This makes political parties less inclined to focus on this age group of the electorate. "However, political parties ought to take young people's issues and concerns seriously so that they feel incentivized to partake in the democratic process in the future." With regards to the main concerns that young people in the UK have, more than 50% of the people surveyed thought the cost of living crisis, inflation or economy in general were the most important issues the country is facing today. Irene Arahal, also from the Department of Politics, International Relations and Philosophy, noted:"Economic insecurity dominates young people's concerns, followed by the current state of politics and elected politicians. "These figures resonate with their dissatisfaction and overall disinterest in politics. Taking the youth's concerns into serious consideration will be an important challenge for the future government." The main policy concerns that young people have seem to also make them worried about what their future holds. More than 60% of young people are afraid about the impact that the economic and political situation will have on their future, and only 17% of those asked said that they are not afraid about the impact on their future. Olaf Borghi, from the Department of Psychology, added: "In addition to addressing the youth's concerns, the ways by which young people can participate more in politics could hopefully have a positive impact on how they will feel about their future; less worried and more optimistic." The survey of 1000 respondents aged 16-21 years old, was conducted from 24 May to 4 June 2024 by Gallup International on behalf of the Interdisciplinary Project on the Politics of Adolescence and Democracy (IP-PAD, https://www.ippad.eu/). |
| Exploitation Route | Our findings can inform our understanding of UK's youth towards democracy. |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy Education |
| URL | https://www.ippad.eu/post/youth-survey-uk |
| Title | Cognitive Control and Motivated Reasoning |
| Description | People often favour information aligned with their ideological motives. Can our tendency for motivated reasoning be overcome with cognitive control? It remains contested whether cognitive control processes, such as cognitive reflection and inhibitory control, are linked to a greater tendency to engage in politically motivated reasoning, as proposed by the "motivated reflection" hypothesis, or can help people overcome it, as suggested by cognitive science research. In this pre-registered study (N = 504, UK), we first provide evidence for motivated reasoning on multiple political and non-political topics. We then compare the relative evidence for these two competing hypotheses and find that for political topics, it is 20 times more likely that cognitive reflection is associated with less motivated reasoning - in contrast to the prediction from the influential "motivated reflection" hypothesis. Our results highlight the need for more nuanced theories of how different cognitive control processes interact with motivated reasoning. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | N/a |
| URL | https://osf.io/uztn7/ |
| Description | Marie Curie Doctoral Network The project will involve extensive collaborations between the following universities and organizations : University of Amsterdam (Netherlands), University of Vienna (Austria), Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences (Greece), Jagiellonian University (Poland) and Royal Holloway University of London (UK). Across all universities we have formed multidisciplinary supervisory teams with the participation of political scientists and political/social psychol |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Department | Joint Research Centre (JRC) |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Our research team will carry out research in the UK. Our Early Career Researchers will undertake a 3-month secondment to one of our associated partners. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partners are leading their work packages in their respective countries. |
| Impact | Not available yet |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Marie Curie Doctoral Network The project will involve extensive collaborations between the following universities and organizations : University of Amsterdam (Netherlands), University of Vienna (Austria), Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences (Greece), Jagiellonian University (Poland) and Royal Holloway University of London (UK). Across all universities we have formed multidisciplinary supervisory teams with the participation of political scientists and political/social psychol |
| Organisation | Jagiellonian University |
| Country | Poland |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Our research team will carry out research in the UK. Our Early Career Researchers will undertake a 3-month secondment to one of our associated partners. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partners are leading their work packages in their respective countries. |
| Impact | Not available yet |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Marie Curie Doctoral Network The project will involve extensive collaborations between the following universities and organizations : University of Amsterdam (Netherlands), University of Vienna (Austria), Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences (Greece), Jagiellonian University (Poland) and Royal Holloway University of London (UK). Across all universities we have formed multidisciplinary supervisory teams with the participation of political scientists and political/social psychol |
| Organisation | Panteion University, Athens |
| Country | Greece |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Our research team will carry out research in the UK. Our Early Career Researchers will undertake a 3-month secondment to one of our associated partners. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partners are leading their work packages in their respective countries. |
| Impact | Not available yet |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Marie Curie Doctoral Network The project will involve extensive collaborations between the following universities and organizations : University of Amsterdam (Netherlands), University of Vienna (Austria), Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences (Greece), Jagiellonian University (Poland) and Royal Holloway University of London (UK). Across all universities we have formed multidisciplinary supervisory teams with the participation of political scientists and political/social psychol |
| Organisation | University of Amsterdam |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Our research team will carry out research in the UK. Our Early Career Researchers will undertake a 3-month secondment to one of our associated partners. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partners are leading their work packages in their respective countries. |
| Impact | Not available yet |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Marie Curie Doctoral Network The project will involve extensive collaborations between the following universities and organizations : University of Amsterdam (Netherlands), University of Vienna (Austria), Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences (Greece), Jagiellonian University (Poland) and Royal Holloway University of London (UK). Across all universities we have formed multidisciplinary supervisory teams with the participation of political scientists and political/social psychol |
| Organisation | University of Vienna |
| Country | Austria |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Our research team will carry out research in the UK. Our Early Career Researchers will undertake a 3-month secondment to one of our associated partners. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partners are leading their work packages in their respective countries. |
| Impact | Not available yet |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | MSCA lunchtime conversations - The future of democracy: youth participation, political discourse and active citizenship |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | This event focused on the future of democracy in the context of youth participation and political discourse needed to address young people's values, interests and forms of engagement. The session also identified needs for research and follow-up to better reach and engage young people. Speakers presented the knowledge developed in EU-funded projects, which will serve as a basis for the discussion and exchange among the panellists and with the audience. The aim of the MSCA lunchtime conversations is to provide a space for exchange between researchers and policymakers on the proposed topic through close interaction between science and policy. This specific series of lunchtime conversations will explore the meaning of democracy and different forms of democratic participation for citizens of diverse demographic groups, institutional and societal contexts. Each MSCA lunchtime conversation will bring together representatives from different Commission services and scientific leaders/coordinators of EU-funded projects, who will present their work on the given topic and engage in an active discussion with each other and the audience. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/event/msca-lunchtime-conversations-series-on-dem... |