Community service in adolescence - Empirical findings and political implications

Heinz Reinders

James Youniss

Kurzbeschrieb:

The workshop focuses on the role of community service and its impacts on youth' political socialization. Since service is expected to foster adolescents political sensitivity and personal awareness for responsibility, research has to show how and under which conditions this process takes place. Furthermore, research can give hints for political actors of how best to promote what kinds of service. The political reception of findings, of course, depends on perspectives on politically and socially engaged youth. If the younger generation is seen as motor of positive development of society, promoting service might be more likely than if youth political activities are seen as public disturbance.

Prof. Dr. Heinz Reinders an der Universität Würzburg, Lehrstuhl empirische Bildungsforschung

Prof. James Youniss an der Catholic University of America, Washington, Department of Psychology