Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Off the Radar Democracy: Young People’s Alternative Acts of Citizenship in Australia

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Young People Re-Generating Politics in Times of Crises

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in Young People and Politics ((PSYPP))

Abstract

Compared to many other countries, Australia’s young population was shielded from the worst effects of the 2008 Global Financial Crisis. Perhaps as a result, recent youth protests and unrest witnessed internationally have been less dramatic in Australia. Nevertheless, many young people in Australia are still serious about their citizenship. They continue to be engaged in politics, but they express this in ‘off the radar’ ways that are not captured by current measures or analyses. This chapter explores the growth of youth social enterprise and volunteering as alternative spaces for youth citizenship. It draws upon field research conducted by the authors to consider young people’s attitudes to power, influence and democratic change-making, as well as implications for conventional notions and practices of politics.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 119.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Andersson, E. (2015). Situational political socialization: A normative approach to young people’s adoption and acquisition of political preferences and skills. Journal of Youth Studies, 18(8), 967–983.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC). (2016). Concerns one in two 18-year-olds not enrolled to vote: Australian electoral commission. World Today, 9 May. http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2016/s4458565.htm

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). (2007). Voluntary work. Canberra: Australian Government. http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/4441.02010?OpenDocument

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). (2012). A comparison of volunteering rates from the 2006 Census of Population and Housing and the 2006 General Social Survey. Canberra: Australian Government. http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/4441.0.55.002Junper.

  • Australian Youth Forum (AYF). (2012). Submission to Australian curriculum and reporting authority on proposed Australian curriculum. Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations, Office for Youth. Retrieved March 21, 2013, from http://www.youth.gov.au/sites/Youth/ayf/weHearYou/Documents/AYF_Sub_ACARA_Civics.pdf

  • Bassett, K., Troy, D., Scarce, L., & McLaren, A. (2011). Youth volunteering. Fortitude Valley: Left Right Think-Tank.

    Google Scholar 

  • Battilana, J., Sengul, M., Pache, A.-C., & Model, J. (2015). Harnessing productive tensions in hybrid organizations: The case of work integration social enterprises. Academy of Management Journal, 58(6), 1658–1858.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bessant, J. (2000). Civil conscription or reciprocal obligation: The ethics of “work-for-the-dole”. Australian Journal of Social Issues, 35(1), 15–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bessant, J. (2016). Democracy denied, youth participation and criminalizing digital dissent. Journal of Youth Studies, 19(7), 921–937.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bessant, J., Farthing, R., & Watts, R. (2016). Co-designing a civics curriculum: Young people, democratic deficit and political renewal in the EU. Journal of Curriculum Studies, 48(2), 271–289.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Black, R., Walsh, L., & Taylor, F. (2011). Young people on the margins: What works in youth participation. Youth Studies Australia, 30(1), 42–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradford, S., & Cullen, F. (2014). Youth policy in austerity Europe. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 19(1), 1–4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buckley, H., Dalton, B., Fildes, J., Ivancic, L., Matkovic, L., Perrens, B., et al. (2012). Youth survey 2012. Sydney: Mission Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cave, L., Fildes, J., Luckett, G., & Wearring, A. (2015). Mission Australia Youth Survey Report 2015. Sydney: Mission Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Collin, P., & Walsh, L. (2016). Many young people aren’t enrolled to vote—But are we asking them the wrong question? The Conversation. 16 May. Retrieved July 29, 2016, from http://theconversation.com/many-young-people-arent-enrolled-to-vote-but-are-we-asking-them-the-wrong-question-59248

  • Cooper, C. (2012). Understanding the English “riots” of 2011: “Mindless criminality” or youth “Mekin Histri” in austerity Britain? Youth and Policy, 109(6), 6–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cornelis, I., Van Hiel, A., & De Cremer, D. (2013). Volunteer work in youth organizations: Predicting distinct aspects of volunteering behavior from self- and other-oriented motives. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 43(2), 456–466.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crawford-Spencer, E., & Cantatore, F. (2016). Models of franchising for social enterprise. Journal of Marketing Channels, 23(1–2), 47–59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferrier, F., Roos, I., & Long, M. (2004). Passions, people and appreciation: Making volunteering work for young people. Canberra: National Youth Affairs Research Scheme.

    Google Scholar 

  • France, A., & Threadgold, S. (2015). Youth and political economy: Towards a Bourdieusian approach. Journal of Youth Studies, 19(5), 612–628.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Geale, J., Creyton, M., Tindoy, M., & Radovic, A. (2010). Youth leading youth: A look at organisations led by young people. Queensland: Volunteering Queensland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hardy, S. A., Pratt, M. W., Pancer, S. M., Olsen, J. A., & Lawford, H. L. (2010). Community and religious involvement as contexts of identity change across late adolescence and emerging adulthood. International Journal of Behavioural Development, 35(2), 125–135.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harris, C. (2013). Promoting youth engagement and wellbeing through student volunteer programs in schools. Canberra: Volunteering ACT.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill, M., Russell, J., & Brewis, G. (2009). Young people, volunteering and youth projects: A rapid review of recent evidence. London: Institute of Volunteering Research.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holdsworth, C. (2015). The cult of experience: Standing out from the crowd in an era of austerity. Area. doi:10.1111/area.12201.

  • House of Representatives Standing Committee on Family, Community, Housing and Youth. (2008). The value of volunteering. Canberra: Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jahromi, P., Crocetti, E., & Buchanan, C. M. (2012). A cross-cultural examination of adolescent civic engagement: Comparing Italian and American community-oriented and political involvement. Journal of Prevention and Intervention in the Community, 40(1), 22–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kallio, K. P., Mills, S., & Skelton, T. (Eds.). (2016). Politics, citizenship and rights. Singapore: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, P. (2006). The entrepreneurial self and ‘youth at-risk’: Exploring the horizons of identity in the twenty-first century. Journal of Youth Studies, 9(1), 17–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kerr, L., Savelsberg, H., Sparrow, S., & Tedmanson, D. (2001). Experiences and perceptions of volunteering in indigenous and non-English speaking background communities. Adelaide: Social Policy Research Group, University of South Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Left Right Think-Tank. (2011). Youth volunteering: Increasing engagement and participation. Queensland: Left Right Think-Tank.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mansouri, F., & Kirpitchenko, L. (2016). Practices of active citizenship among migrant youth: Beyond conventionalities. Social Identities, 22(3), 1–17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, P. (2009). Women make jobs gains while men lose out. The Age, 10 July. Retrieved May 25, 2015, from http://www.theage.com.au/national/women-make-jobs-gains-while-men-lose-out-20090709-dep7.html

  • McBride, A. M., Johnson, E., Olate, R., & O’Hara, K. (2011). Youth volunteer service as positive youth development in Latin America and the Caribbean. Children and Youth Services Review, 33(1), 34–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mills, S. (2015). Geographies of youth work, volunteering and employment: The Jewish lads’ brigade and club in post-war Manchester. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, 40(4), 523–535.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moffatt, L. (2011a). Engaging young people in volunteering: What works in Tasmania? Executive summary. Hobart: Volunteering Tasmania.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moffatt, L. (2011b). Engaging young people in volunteering: What works in Tasmania? Full report. Hobart: Volunteering Tasmania.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muir, K., Mullan, K., Powell, A., Flaxman, S., Thompson, D., & Griffiths, M. (2009). State of Australia’s young people. Canberra: Australian Government, Office for Youth.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nicol, S. (2012). Volunteering and young people. Youth Studies Australia, 31(3), 3–5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Percy-Smith, B. (2016). Negotiating active citizenship: Young people’s participation in everyday spaces. In K. P. Kallio, S. Mills, & T. Skelton (Eds.), Politics, citizenship and rights (pp. 1–18). Singapore: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peterson, A., & Bentley, B. (2016). A case for cautious optimism? Active citizenship and the Australian civics and citizenship curriculum. Asia Pacific Journal of Education. doi:10.1080/02188791.2016.1142424.

  • Pickard, S. (2014a). French youth policy in an age of austerity: Plus ça change? International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 19(1), 48–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pickard, S. (2014b). “The trouble with young people these days”: “Deviant” youth, the popular press and politics in contemporary Britain. French Journal of British Studies, 19(1), 91–121.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson, L., & Lamb, S. (2009). How young people are faring 2009. Melbourne: The Foundation for Young Australians.

    Google Scholar 

  • Staeheli, L. A., Attoh, K., & Mitchell, D. (2013). Contested engagements: Youth and the politics of citizenship. Space and Polity, 17(1), 88–105.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Volunteering ACT. (2013). About us. Retrieved July 15, 2016, from http://www.volunteeringact.org.au/about/about-us

  • Volunteering Australia. (2006). Involved and valued? Findings from a national survey of Australian volunteers from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Canberra: Volunteering Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Volunteering Australia. (2016). Definition of volunteering. Canberra: Volunteering Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vromen, A., & Collin, P. (2010). Everyday youth participation? Contrasting views from Australian policymakers and young people. Young, 18(1), 97–112.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walsh, L. L. (2016a). Will the internships program help young people get jobs? The Herald Sun. 10 May. Retrieved July 29, 2016, from http://www.heraldsun.com.au/business/work/will-the-internships-program-help-young-people-get-jobs/news-story/d0763044b0f14501c6fcf868037d174d

  • Walsh, L. L. (2016b). Educating generation next: Young people, teachers and schooling in transition. London: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walsh, L. L. (2017a). Treading water? The roles and possibilities of adversity capital in preparing young people for precarity. In P. Kelly & J. Pike (Eds.), Neo-liberalism and austerity: The moral economies of young people’s health and wellbeing. London: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walsh, L. L. (2017b). Beyond hope and outrage: Conceptualizing and harnessing adversity capital in young people. In P. Kelly, P. Campbell, L. Harrison, & C. Hickey (Eds.), Young people and the politics of outrage and hope. Leiden and Boston: Brill Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walsh, L. L., & Black, R. (2011). In their own hands: Can young people change Australia? Melbourne: ACER Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walsh, L. L., & Black, R. (2015). Youth volunteering in Australia: An evidence review. In Report prepared for the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth. Canberra: Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walsh, L. L., Black, R., & Berman, N. (2013). Walking the talk: Youth research in hard times. In K. te Riele & R. Brooks (Eds.), Negotiating ethical challenges in youth research (pp. 43–54). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walsh, L. L., & Owen, J. (2015). Young people, change making and democracy. In P. Crisp (Ed.), So you want to be a leader: Influential people reveal how to succeed in public life (pp. 216–227). Melbourne: Hybrid Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williamson, H. (2014). Radicalisation to retreat: Responses of the young to austerity Europe. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 19(1), 5–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wood, B. E. (2016). A genealogy of the “everyday” within young people’s citizenship studies. In K. P. Kallio, S. Mills, & T. Skelton (Eds.), Politics, citizenship and rights (pp. 1–14). Singapore: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Education, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Lucas Walsh

  2. Department of Education, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia

    Rosalyn Black

Authors
  1. Lucas Walsh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Rosalyn Black
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lucas Walsh .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Université Sorbonne Nouvelle, Paris, France

    Sarah Pickard

  2. RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia

    Judith Bessant

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Walsh, L., Black, R. (2018). Off the Radar Democracy: Young People’s Alternative Acts of Citizenship in Australia. In: Pickard, S., Bessant, J. (eds) Young People Re-Generating Politics in Times of Crises. Palgrave Studies in Young People and Politics. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-58250-4_12

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation