Summary of Conclusions
The Role of Political Engagement in College Students, Civic Identity Journal, addresses the development of civic identity. Matthew R. Johnson and his associates consider the deteriorating civic as well as political engagement among colleges and universities from a political perspective. In the article, the authors argue that there has been an increase in civic participation as well as the formation of civic identity among students. At the same time, however, this does not transmute to the level of political engagement and awareness, which has been, expressed from the government bodies. Borrowing from the concepts of different scholars, this article debates the concept of identity development, humans as political animals, and ideology. The main aim of this article is to explore how college graduates understand, construct, and act on the inherently political dimensions of their civic identities.
The study follows longitudinal research based on a semi-structured interview. The study involved 19 participants who were graduates at an Academy University for one month. In the study, participants were selected based on variations of shared experiences. The researcher’s use holistic identity development models in illustrating the way in which people developed along various dimensions. Focusing on identity development in this study is relevant because the political aspects of civic identity extend to three dimensions of identity development and it shaped the experiences of the participants in understanding political dimensions and civic identities.
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The results show that most participants do not involve themselves in politics in any formal sense. Based on their description politics is, divisive, cynical, nasty, and did not offer much gratification and is something that should be avoided altogether. Beyond being negative, however, the findings show that politics offered little gratification for college students. The reports shows that most participate pay little attention to politics. At the same time, however, the authors say that participants were plugged into national politics, mainly because of the 2016 presidential campaign. However, despite having opinions on issues about this campaign period, the participants reported that political events did not affect their civic identities.
Recommendation
From this perspective, higher learning institutions are supposed to advance increasing learning and rates of success and more importantly is cultivating the capability of citizens to sustaining democracy. These objectives are complementary. The primary objective of political engagement and civic engagement are normative. They are both based on the cultivation of pre-desired results –increased learning and achieving academically. Through civic engagement, students develop civic identities and define racial, gender, ethnic, and vocational identities, which are significant contributors to civic engagement.
From a literature point of view, research on political science stems from different studies after a period called a behavioral revolution. The authors of this study reported that behavioral studies follow participation based on state and conventional politics. Most scholars in this period attempt to consider the factors that explain the attitudes, values as well as the political orientation of politically active people. The general aim of the literature section in this paper is to argue the limitations that foster political engagement. From this perspective, Johnson, and associates believe that to understand civic identity, it is first important to know what role politics play in its development.
Political scientist and psychologies have recognized the root of civic engagement among the youth and the necessary skill in facilitating and sustaining the engagement. In considering the policies, youths should be introduced to the essential skills necessary for civic engagement. Accordingly, involvement results in developing necessary civic experiences like working groups to achieve tasks, collaborating and working out changes. To ensure that youths engage politically, there are minor modifications that should be made. Rather than informing them of the society’s problem and the methods of fixing them, it is important to facilitate students in recognizing these issues and letting them create resolutions that alleviate them. This gives most youths the chance to voice their interests, and experience themselves to reach a consensus about a solution.
This study concluded that students pay little attention to politics and they generally have negative perspectives about political events. This, as reported, has always been the general attitude for most youths and college students for years. The researchers believe that even though some participants remained informed about political agendas, most struggled to reconcile the need for political engagement. As a result, the author recommends that future study should go beyond studying political engagement and instead adjust on the issue of engagement politically.
Finally, since the study concluded that there is an increased variability and nuance in the political dimension of civic identity, students can understand several perspectives of reasoning and issues regarding development. They add these skills when they engage in events that support decision-making. Providing prospects for students to meet with public representatives and allowing them to offer input into several choices inspires political identity into their consideration of self and adds to the progress of political ideology. Therefore, organizing youth activities offers a unique opportunity for political engagement and the development of civic identity.
