The Political Participation of Latin American School-Age Students

Book Section
Author

Miranda, Daniel; Castillo, Juan Carlos; Carrasco, Kevin & Herrera-Leighton, Anaís

Published

March 1, 2025

Abstract
This chapter examines the political participation of youth in four Latin American countries: Chile, Colombia, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. The study aims to describe the levels of youth involvement in different types of participation, as well as to characterise the extent to which resources, political attitudes, and school opportunities to learn civic skills are linked to different types of involvement in various forms of political participation and the factors influencing this engagement. The study utilises data from the International Civic and Citizenship Education Study (ICCS) conducted in 2009 and 2016. The ICCS data provides insights into students’ civic dispositions, socio-economic backgrounds, political attitudes and civic learning opportunities at school. The study employs a comparative analysis of youth political participation across the four countries, examining the relationship between socio-economic resources, political attitudes and civic education opportunities, and their impact on students’ willingness to engage in various forms of political activities. The findings indicate a significant increase in youth participation in non-traditional political activities, particularly protests, across Latin America. This trend reflects a broader global pattern of youth activism. The study highlights the importance of socio-economic resources, political attitudes and educational opportunities in shaping youth political engagement.
NoteHow to cite this work

Miranda, Daniel; Castillo, Juan Carlos; Carrasco, Kevin & Herrera-Leighton, Anaís (2025). The Political Participation of Latin American School-Age Students. The Political Psychology of Social Unrest in Latin America 104–122 . London: Routledge https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003282174-6. ISBN: 978-1-003-28217-4