Practices of active citizenship among migrant youth: beyond conventionalities

ABSTRACT

This paper discusses the empirical manifestations of the notion of active citizenship in the context of the experiences of migrant youth. It focuses on the practices of active citizenship through involvement in social networks and creative civic engagement. In doing so, the article examines the complex and multi-faceted nature of social networking among migrant youth and the extent to which their approach to engagement is dependent on the specificities of the local environment, the type of social issues involved, and the cultural norms of one's own cultural heritage. Key empirical insights are derived from quantitative and qualitative research conducted among migrant youth of African, Arabic-speaking and Pacific Island backgrounds in Australia. These empirical insights are used to examine the changing perceptions of active citizenship among migrant youth, and the possibilities offered through non-traditional networks to engender civic engagement and social participation.

KEYWORDS:

• Active citizenship
• cultural diversity
• intercultural relations
• migrant youth
• social networks

Acknowledgments

This paper is based on an Australian Research Council Linkage Grant which included two important industry partners, namely the Centre for Multicultural Youth and the Australian Red Cross. The authors would like to express their deep gratitude to project co-investigator Zlatko Skrbiš as well as project researchers Maša Mikola, Libby Effeney, Melinda Chiment, Ameera Karimshah and our industry partners Steven Francis, Carmel Guerra, and Soo-Lin Quek for their valuable contributions in organising data collection activities, conducting interviews and performing initial compilation of research data.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.