Young people's interest in politics grows
In the last six years has increased from 27 to 41 percent the percentage of young people who declare themselves quite and very interested in politics, according to the Reina Sofia Center. This is the main result of the last study carried out by this Center whose objective was to analyze how young people perceive society and the political system, what are their channels for citizen participation and what role the Internet plays.
Thus, through an online survey that has had the participation of 808 boys and girls between 18 and 25 years, regular users of social networks, an increase in the interest of young people in politics was detected. If in 2008, 27 percent of young people admitted that they were very interested in politics, now that percentage has grown to 41 percent.
One of the handicaps that holds young people to see politics as something positive is the lack of confidence of our parliamentary representatives. The tension is what tires our young people, discourses in disqualification and lacking in projects. They ask that people dedicate themselves to politics demonstrate to be committed to society, in order to restore confidence in Public Institutions, because for them the policy is not only to be in a party but to participate in any association, is to be service of others.
Intention to vote in the face of elections
Although indignation, distrust and powerlessness are the three negative feelings that are grouped around politics, the intention to vote among young people is very high. Some 80 percent of respondents say they will vote, while only 9 percent discard it and another 10 percent do not know or do not answer.
The participation and association of young people in politics
However, despite this growing interest, youth participation in politics remains low. The data confirm a very low tendency to associations among Spanish youth, with two exceptions, sports groups, in which they register 23 percent of participation) and NGOs or volunteers, where 17 percent of respondents participate. Specifically, only 1.1% of respondents admit to belonging and participating actively in a political party.
What do young people identify as young people engage in politics?
The young people consulted answer the following:
1. vote when there are elections (6.95),
2. belong to neighborhood associations, ecologists or Human Rights (6,18)
3. Sign complaints or supporting texts (5.89).
4. attend demonstrations and occupy buildings for people who have been evicted (5,19)
5. participate in a union (4.31)
6. military in a political party (3.85).
Television is still your favorite means of communication
The preferred medium for young people to learn about politics is still television. Seventy-three percent of those consulted chose television, while 44.5% said they were informed by Internet and 43.6% specifically by online newspapers. 17.7 percent declare to use the written press and confirm its lower impact compared to the online version. A proportion that in the case of the radio goes down to 15 percent.
Although these data are not entirely negative, in terms of the quantitative growth of the youth association movement, we keep asking ourselves what are the key factors that prevent more people from joining our projects.
The young people state that the main incentive that could lead them to an association is the "use of free time in activities that they like". Thus, the main motivations to participate in an association are related to the satisfaction of their own needs: "Feel useful, be with people who think the same or be able to better defend certain rights". This profile is complemented by that of associate-consumer that seeks to enjoy certain benefits provided by associations.
Marisol New
