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YOUTH CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND PARTICIPATION IN LATVIA: AN ANALYTICAL INSIGHT INTO THE FIELD RESEARCH
Abstract
The research object is the youth's social and political activity, which, according to the data of the field research carried out in 2012-2014, is a significant modelling factor of a successfully developing society in Latvia. As the location for the field research, the places contrasting in their ethnic composition and economic development have been selected – Riga, the capital of Latvia, and Daugavpils, the second largest city of Latvia. In order to obtain wider range of material and the variety of viewpoints the interviews were conducted; the interviewees were both the youth's non-governmental organizations holding different socio political positions, as well as the experts of regional and national level working in the field of youth's policy and education. In order to carry out the research the qualitative research methods were used; the study is based on the social capital theory, institutional and cultural theories. The results of the research confirm the widespread opinion about the youth's insufficient political and social activity – this view has been emphasized by both the experts and the young people. However, the youth is more active in the capital. As to the motives of the youth's social inactivity, the experts and the youth mention the common passivity of the society, the specific character of upbringing and education, the poor social, political and economic situation in the country. The experts stress that the youth's individual motivation is formed by the belonging to a particular social group, their political and cultural idols. Thus, to increase the youth's social activity, it is necessary to implement the totality of strategic measures at the national level that would develop the educational system and stabilise the economic and political situation, thus increasing the society's confidence in the country.
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