The chapters in this book have all sought to throw light on how engagement with civil society is associated with different phases and events of the lifecourse. This concluding chapter summarises the principal findings of each chapter, identifies cross-cutting issues and reflects on the merits and challenges of the lifecourse approach. It concludes by briefly considering the implications of these findings for those policy makers and civil society organisations which are concerned to foster civil and political participation.

Principal findings

As noted in Chapter 1, Gilleard and Higgs (2016: 302) identify two approaches within lifecourse sociology – one which focuses on the stratification of the lifecourse and that concentrates on different ‘stages’ and how these produce particular obligations and opportunities, and another that concentrates on stratification over the lifecourse and how events and institutions shape biographies. We need, and this book has highlighted the importance of, both approaches if we are to understand changing patterns of civil and political participation. In the first empirical chapter of this book (Chapter 2), Chris Taylor uses longitudinal data from one of the British birth cohort studies (the 1958 National Cohort Development Study) to try to grasp both dimensions of the lifecourse approach. His analysis of the changing levels of civic participation within the cohort from the age of 16 until they were 55 years old reveals a complex picture of change and continuity – although, as he acknowledges, the disadvantage of using a single cohort like this is that it is not possible to separate the effects of the lifecourse from wider structural changes over time – a wellknown methodological challenge of any longitudinal study of civic participation, particularly as there have been some major changes in civic participation over recent times.

Taylor's analysis shows how different stages of the lifecourse – family formation, child-rearing and employment – have implications for civic engagement as measured in terms of trade union membership, volunteering and voting. However, he also shows how important prior civic participation is for later civic participation. In this connection, social class background appears to have an important role in determining initial levels of civic participation over the lifecourse, particularly in terms of formal volunteering. Furthermore, while changes to socioeconomic circumstances, such as social mobility, can have an impact, early adult life influences appear to be more important in shaping later civic participation.