A Sorbonne Alliance research project to encourage young people's political and social commitment

Questioning young people's relationship with politics in a context marked by inequality

This project led by Camila Moreira Cesar aims to gain a better understanding of the younger generations' relationship with politics. While their participation in institutional political life may seem limited, many of them are actively involved in associations, fighting against gender and racial inequalities, concerned about environmental issues and adopting more sustainable lifestyles.

Camila Moreira Cesar points out, "it's essential to clarify what drives the new generations today, what motivates them to get involved as citizens and in political life. It is necessary to understand their motivations, their needs, their specificities, as well as the heterogeneity that characterizes this category of the population: individuals who are very diverse in terms of social origins, levels of education and personal circumstances.".

The work carried out as part of this project aims to shed light on the socio-cultural specificities of young people and identify the factors that distance them from traditional politics, while analyzing the reasons that drive them to exercise their citizenship outside established political institutions.

Co-constructing with actors in the field to help improve public policies aimed at young people

One of the major aims of this project is to provide concrete avenues for institutional actors in charge of youth, in order to reduce the existing gap between political representatives and the true aspirations of the younger generations. By bringing young people's expectations closer to political practices, this project could encourage their inclusion in the spaces of debate and decision-making.

"For the new generations, the bodies of political power appear as inaccessible places, occupied by politicians who seem disconnected from the reality of citizens. The result is a political scene dominated by personalities, currents and debates that seem alien to their lived experience."

The results of this survey will also enable us to rethink the modes of political and public communication, in order to establish a genuine dialogue with the new generations by striving to better respond to their concerns and expectations.

Projects with a strong impact on science, knowledge and society

The aim of the SHS Île-de-France Chairs is to promote research in the humanities and social sciences conducted by young researchers in the Paris region. By funding research projects, they help to build resilience in the face of the multiple crises facing our society.

The 2023 winners:

• Annelise Binois-Roman, Senior Lecturer at the University of Paris 1, who was awarded funding for her project
  "Maladies animales en archéologie : diagnostic et impacts (MALADI)", a study of the spread of animal diseases among humans and their consequences on ancient populations. This three-year project (2023-2026) combines expertise in archaeology, biomolecular sciences, life sciences and the humanities and social sciences.
• Benjamin Monery, Senior Lecturer in Economics at Université Paris Nanterre, for his project on the Observatoire des Disparités dans la Justice Pénale.
• Benjamin Raimbault, Senior Lecturer in Innovation at Université Gustave Eiffel/ESIEE, for his project on
  the greening of industry.

Press release from Sorbonne Alliance.