Tag: James Sloam

Youthquake 2017: how the rise of young cosmopolitans in Britain could transform politics

Youthquake 2017: how the rise of young cosmopolitans in Britain could transform politics

In a new book, James Sloam and Matt Henn examine the much-disputed rise in political participation of 18–24 year olds in the UK. They find that the overwhelming majority share a set of cosmopolitan cultural values, which has significant implications for long-term voting patterns and the increasingly entrenched intergenerational politics.

Let down and left out: Young voters and the EU referendum

Let down and left out: Young voters and the EU referendum

The EU referendum campaigns and mainstream media displayed a staggering indifference to younger voters, writes James Sloam. He highlights how the switch to individual voter registration, the timing of the vote, the exclusion of 16- and 17-year olds and  the media circus of exaggerated claim and counter-claim all left young people unenthused by the campaign and strongly opposed to […]

The generation gap: How young voters view the UK’s referendum

The generation gap: How young voters view the UK’s referendum

Opinion polls on the UK’s upcoming referendum have consistently shown a clear generational divide, with younger voters more likely to support staying in the EU than older citizens. Using recent survey data, James Sloam assesses the factors underpinning this split, noting that if young people have such a distinct position on the EU, it is […]

Education can provide both the opportunities and capabilities to make active citizens of our young people

Education can provide both the opportunities and capabilities to make active citizens of our young people

The General Election once again showed the extent of yawning divide in terms of political participation between older and younger citizens. James Sloam and Ben Kisby reflect on the extent to which young people (dis)engage from politics. By analysing data from the European Social Survey, they conclude that educational institutions are a vital factor in influencing young people’s […]

Young people are less likely to vote than older citizens, but they are also more diverse in how they choose to participate in politics

Young people are less likely to vote than older citizens, but they are also more diverse in how they choose to participate in politics

Participation in electoral politics has declined across Western Europe in recent decades as citizens have become increasingly disillusioned with conventional forms of politics. As James Sloam notes, this is especially true for the current generation of young Europeans, who have turned to alternative forms of political engagement that seem to have more relevance to their everyday lives. […]