Politics

The Civic and Political Participation of Millennials

Millennials have come of age in a time of shifting landscapes and tumultuous change. Growing up in the Information Age, Millennials are empowered by information and demand transparency and authenticity. The explosion of customization and choice in the marketplace has contributed to a generation unhindered by brand loyalty. And as a cohort, Millennials have already confronted several major crises—from domestic terrorism to the Great Recession to climate change.

Millennials’ unique historic experiences have shaped their relationship with politics and their communities. Given their sheer numbers, Millennials are a potentially powerful political force, yet they do not pursue traditional forms of civic engagement, such as voting, and are more likely to eschew party identity. Why is this? What real and perceived barriers to engagement exist? Despite their skepticism of old- school party politics, the generation is finding other and more accessible pathways to participate, most notably through volunteering, consumer activism, and civic uses of social media. What are the consequences of pushing Millennials out of politics? What are the implications of alternative avenues of engagement? Most significantly, what is the relationship between current notions of Millennials’ political engagement and the defining challenges of their time?

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