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Book review

Loncle, P, Cuconato, M. Muniglia, V. and Walther, A. (2012). Youth

Participation in Europe, Bristol: The Policy Press, 70.00 (Hardback), 264 pages,

ISBN 9781447300182

Reviewed by

Dr. Theo Gavrielides, IARS Founder & Director, Co-Director of the Restorative

Justice for All Institute, Adjunct Professor at Simon Fraser University and Vising

Professor at Buckinghamshire New University.

There is a growing rhetoric that the democratic foundations of the European Union

(EU) are shaken and that its citizens are no longer represented by its key structures

such as the Council and the Parliament. Independently of whether one subscribes to

such a view, there is no doubt that we are living in a region where there is a crisis of

trust among states, a growing individualization and an underlying feeling of fear for

the future. A strong EU is one that nurtures its young citizens talents and strengths,

and therefore the question of youth participation could not have been more timely.

A book looking at this matter from an independent and evidence-based point of view

is therefore welcomed.

Using a comparative approach, the book attempts to unravel some of the

complexities and realities of youth participation and culture in both formal and

informal contexts in Europe. The book is partly based on the research project

UP2Youth, Youth as Actor of Social Change funded under the EU 6th

Framework

Programme of Research. The findings on Austria, Italy, Ireland and Slovakia weregenerated as part of this grant, but additional research is also presented from

Finland, Italy, Ireland, Spain and France. It is surprising that the UK was not included

in the research despite the origins of the publisher. Other omissions are the more

recently joined EU members such as Cyprus, Malta and Poland while the example of

Greek youth could have offered some insights into the financial and political

challenges that they are facing.

The book is divided into five sections and it starts which a much-needed

introduction that puts the chapters in the context of the extant literature and

current policy debate. Much has been said about true youth participation in civic life,

policies, legislation and practices impacting on them. However, how aligned areyoung peoples understanding of participation and that of their national

governments and EU institutions? The first section of the book tries to tackle some

of these definitional challenges while looking at the weaknesses and realities of

youth policies and traditional models of engagement including those in relation to

politics, voting and informal education.

Part two attempts a more focused analysis of case studies from selected

countries. It starts with the issue of diversity of youth engagement and participatory

models by looking at practices in Finland. It proceeds with an honest and brave

critique of entrenched practices that have claimed a number of successes, but

achieved little. It then moves on to look at how youth are engaged in Italy and theprocesses in which youth policy is developed. The example of Ireland and the harsh

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realities of the economic downturn are then investigated, while the Spanish example

is used to reflect on their lessons for participation at the local level.

Part three explores models of youth participation that aim to break

geographical barriers mainly through the use of ICT, the internet, social media,

online training, e-surveys and other digital tools. Case studies from various countries

and the results of some research projects are presented. Part four raises some

fundamental questions around education and learning, and how they impact on true

participation and engagement. The chapters here challenge current assumptions

about certain participation competences that young people need to acquire in order

to engage with civic life. The concluding chapters attempt a comparative analysis of

different youth participation models. The institutional dichotomies between real

and false or more and less participation are exposed and discussed.

This book is a must read by anyone working, studying or teaching youth

studies, youth participation and citizenship. It is also an excellent tool for civil society

organisations advocating for young peoples rights and democratic engagement. It is

a balanced and well-researched resource that is removed from the politics that hasshaken young peoples trust in democratic institutions

The premise of the book to explore new avenues of youth participation and to

give credit to bottom up approaches that resonate with young people is one that I

share personally having founded a youth-led, EU-wide think-tank. I have argued

elsewhere that social policy, including youth policy, as well as intellectual debates on

youth studies rarely involve young people in a truly participatory method

(Gavrielides, 2013). This is a missed opportunity and the primary reason why the

majority of youth practices resulting from these studies continue to fail their users

(Gavrielides, 2012). At the same time, the users (in this case, young people) are

blamed for this failure (Gavrielides, 2011; Brady et al., 2012).Therefore, I was already positively biased towards the book both as a reader

and as a reviewer. Nevertheless, most of the chapters speak from evidence, while

the book in its entirety is removed from national and regional agendas. It provides

both descriptive and analytical accounts of key concepts that should help those

working for a stronger democracy at local, national and European levels.

The involvement of young people in decision-making and democratic

structures is not an option for governments, but a statutory obligation under the

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UN, 1989). There can be no

doubt that we are living in opportune times for user involvement. Institutions and

policies are being reviewed globally, and we are slowly becoming a bit more honestabout our thoughts and feelings for each other. Public authorities are forced to

become more accountable and multi-agency, cross-sector partnership work is

encouraged. However, there is still a prevailing belief and indeed attitude that

democracy should be enjoyed passively and that citizens should be called in only

when needed, e.g. to vote.

In 2014, European citizens will be called to vote and the fears that young

peoples participation will be even less has made EU decision makers uneasy and

uncomfortable. This books underlying message is that democracy is predicated on

the idea that every individual and this includes young people, irrespective of their

background or personal circumstances, should have an equal opportunity (not anobligation) to have a say in decisions about their countrys future and formation of

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policies, legislation and practices that affect them. Clearly, there has been some

progress in involving young people in evidence-based decision-making and

democratic structures. However, we know that in reality, some groups of young

people are less likely than others to exercise their democratic right to vote; less likely

to attain elected office; less likely to feel they can influence decisions in their local

area; and less likely to take part in other forms of political or civic activity. I strongly

encourage reading this book as it provides a much needed starting point for a better

and more inclusive dialogue on youth participation.

Brady, L.M. (2012). Involving young people in research: making an impact in public

health in Barnes, M. and P. Cotterell (Ed) Critical Perspectives on User

Involvement, Bristol: Policy Press.

Gavrielides, T. (2013) "Youth studies without the youth: Putting things right through

youth-led research" in Kelly, P. and Kamp A. (Ed) A Critical Youth Studies for the

21st Century, The Netherlands: BRILL.Gavrielides, T. (2012). Userled Youth Justice Policy: A ParticipatoryDemocracy

through Restorative Justice and Human Rights in Gavrielides, T. (Ed) Rights

and Restoration Within Youth Justice, Witby, ON: de Sitter Publications.

Gavrielides, T. (2011). The false and failed youth justice & equality policy: A new

direction. Retrieved September 2011 from

http://www.iars.org.uk/sites/default/files/A%20New%20Direction%202

011_0.pdf

United Nations. (2011). Democracy and human rights. Retrieved September,

2011 from

http://www.unis.unvienna.org/pdf/Democracy_Human_Rights_2008.pdf

http://www.iars.org.uk/sites/default/files/A%20New%20Direction%202011_0.pdfhttp://www.iars.org.uk/sites/default/files/A%20New%20Direction%202011_0.pdfhttp://www.iars.org.uk/sites/default/files/A%20New%20Direction%202011_0.pdfhttp://www.unis.unvienna.org/pdf/Democracy_Human_Rights_2008.pdfhttp://www.unis.unvienna.org/pdf/Democracy_Human_Rights_2008.pdfhttp://www.unis.unvienna.org/pdf/Democracy_Human_Rights_2008.pdfhttp://www.iars.org.uk/sites/default/files/A%20New%20Direction%202011_0.pdfhttp://www.iars.org.uk/sites/default/files/A%20New%20Direction%202011_0.pdf