Exploring Political Socialization and Political Participation: The Filipino Youth and the Sangguniang Kabataan in Caloocan City’s First Legislative District

Abstract

The Sangguniang Kabataan provides opportunities for youth participation in formal politics; however, it has been criticized for several issues including corruption and inefficiency. Using directed content analysis of transcripts from focus group discussions conducted in two schools in Caloocan City, Philippines, this study explores whether young people are politically cynical toward the youth council, and how this affects their political participation. Consistent with traditional political socialization theory, findings show that young people acquire their information and attitude toward the SK through their family, media use, and personal experiences. Results also show that they tend to be politically cynical toward the SK, and are unlikely to participate in SK activities and elections.

Keywords:

• Political socialization
• youth
• political cynicism
• electoral participation
• Sangguniang Kabataan

Acknowledgments

The article is an abridged version of my undergraduate thesis manuscript submitted in June 2015. I am grateful to the supervision and comments of my undergraduate thesis advisers, Professor Maria Lourdes Rebullida and Associate Professor Rogelio Alicor Panao, and thesis reader, Professor Ruth Lusterio-Rico, of the Department of Political Science, University of the Philippines, Diliman. I also would like to thank the two anonymous reviewers who helped me improve the content and writing of this manuscript.