Profile of brazilian youth: questions about political culture and democratic participation

Abstract

This article raises questions for the formation of hypotheses about the possible changes and present features of youth political culture in Brazil. It is aimed at preparation for an analysis of the data of a national survey (“”Profile of Brazilian Youth”) undertaken by the São Paulo “Instituto Cidadania” in November 2003. It is intended that the analysis should take into account the results and interpretations presented by previous surveys of youth political culture, both in Brazil and abroad. The first part of the article examines the Brazilian youth’s commitments (as well as lack of commitment) to democracy, through indicators and interpretations, of conventional political participation. The second part considers other data and interpretations of political participation, which are held to be unconventional. The latter include the value-orientations and associational practices of the youth. The text will be included as a chapter of the book “Retratos da Juventude Brasileira” (provisional title) co-edited by Helena Wendel Abramo and Paulo Martoni Branco for the “Instituto Cidadania” and “Fundação Perseu Abramo”.