Today in Europe, the participation of young people in the decision-making process appears crucial to public authorities for a number of reasons. The crisis of trust and confidence towards traditional forms of representation (as shown both by the growth of abstention but also by the change or even the disengagement from the classical forms of associative and union mobilisation), the growth of individualisation, the building of more varied and uncertain biographical trajectories, and the appearance of an unsettled and weakened sense of belonging to the national and local communities, are factors that encourage public authorities to rally specifically round the young generations. However, the participation of young people remains an ambivalent political concern.

The participation of young people: a general but ambivalent political concern

References to participation can be interpreted as a key concept for an understanding of social integration in modern and late modern societies in which the actions and choices of the individuals – in their role as citizens – play an essential role in terms of influence, involvement and active citizenship. According to the White Paper, ‘Young people want the right to give their opinion on all aspects of their daily lives, such as family, school, work, group activities, their local area, etc. However, in doing so, they are also involved in broader economic, social and political issues’ (European Commission, 2001, p 24). This quotation reflects the awareness of a change in the way social integration has become politically institutionalised in terms of citizenship status; from members of society based on formally assigned rights and responsibilities towards a diversification of involvement possibilities and influence in late modern societies. One may also speak of an individualisation of governance. Consequently, participation in the White Paper is defined as ‘ensuring young people are consulted and more involved in the decisions which concern them and, in general, the life of their communities’ (European Commission, 2001, p 8).