Political and Civic Engagement

The international PIDOP consortium, funded by the European Commission, has produced a ground-breaking volume on citizen engagement, political participation, and the complex nature of policy discourse in democratic societies. This scientifically rich, multi-national, and interdisciplinary volume could not have arrived at a more propitious time as scholars, politicians, and policy makers in many countries scramble to better understand the nature and consequences of shifting patterns of civic participation among youth, women, ethnic minorities, and migrant constituencies. This collaborative volume is a must read for anyone interested in how social and policy science illuminates what we know and need to know about political and civic engagement.– Eugene Borgida, Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, USA

Centering on the civic and political experiences of those less heard, this book offers a rigorous cross-disciplinary, multi-national investigation into the opportunities for and challenges of participation in contemporary Europe. This is an impressive and superbly executed achievement from a truly collaborative endeavor to work across the key social science disciplines to better understand this fundamental social issue. Together the contributors develop a deep and nuanced understanding of barriers and enablers in regard to engagement and advance conceptual frameworks for current times. Drawing on a range of studies, the book delivers vital insights into theory, policy, and practice that are transforming ways of both seeing and doing political and civic engagement. Its breadth and depth make it a must-read for students and scholars seeking a comprehensive overview of contemporary theorising and the latest research findings on possibilities for active citizenship in a changing world.– Anita Harris, School of Social Sciences, Monash University, Australia