Citizens Adrift

Paul Howe is a professor of political science at the University of New Brunswick, Fredericton.

In his recent book, Citizens Adrift: The Democratic Disengagement of Young Canadians, Paul Howe has managed to do what others have not. He presents a comprehensive and balanced examination of the political (dis)engagement of young Canadians. Howe has avoided the trap of simplistic analyses and conclusions and, instead, offers readers a thorough and considered look at the oft-cited low levels of political interest and participation among Canadian youth. He employs statistical data from a wide variety of sources (including those from Canada, the United States and numerous European countries) and draws upon theories in political science, sociology and psychology in order to approach the subject in a unique way. - Brandi Bell (Canadian Journal of Political Science (45:2), June 2012) In Citizens Adrift, Paul Howe explores a problem that every political scientist in Canada has to be thinking about: Why are younger people less interested in politics than their elders? Howe comes to the topic with an open mind, an infectious enthusiasm, and an impressive toolkit. Drawing on the research of others, generating new data of his own, and comparing Canadian results with similar countries, he examines the issue of disengagement from a number of fascinating angles. His diagnosis is at once wise, persuasive, and troubling; his prescriptions are realistic and achievable. Citizens Adrift is a model of political science that deserves a place on every scholar's reference table not just because it is accessible and intelligent, but because it will inform reflection and discussion both in class and, one hopes, on the street. - Canadian Political Science Association Prize Jury

• IntroductionPart 1: Setting the Stage1 Democratic Participation in Canada2 The Wellsprings of DisengagementPart 2: Political Attentiveness3 The Evolution of Political Attentiveness: A Six-Country Comparison4 Political Attentiveness in Canada: The Current Landscape5 Political Knowledge and Canadian DemocracyPart 3: Social Integration6 Community Attachments7 Ascendant Individualism8 Social Integration and Political EngagementPart 4: Looking Back, Looking Forward9 Political Culture in the Age of Adolescence10 Engendering Engagement among Young Canadians: A Holistic ApproachAppendicesNotesWorks CitedData ReferencesIndex