Literature Review #1: College Students and Politics: A Literature Review; Longo & Meyer

Citation:  Longo, Nicholas V. and Ross P. Meyer.  "College Students and Politics: A Literature Review."  CIRCLE 46 (May 2006): 1-20.  Print.


Key Terms and Ideas: political cynicism, individualism, civic engagement vs. community service, "Alternative Politics", alienation, systemic social change



Summary: 
       By the early 1990's a trend of declining political engagement was recognized in the college age demographic.  Longo and Meyer review and analyze research on college students' political participation that took place from the late 1990's to the early 2000's.  Their review reveals a slight increase in civic engagement, or at least a trend in increased community service, which they refer to as an "alternative politics."  Their review begins to scratch the surface in determining the political mentality of college age students of the Millennial generation.  While trends toward cynicism and apathy are identified, a rise in community service is also found.  The authors attempt to determine some of the reasons for this phenomenon.  While they mention that colleges don't only emphasize community service, but often require it for admission or graduation, the authors find that students hold strong beliefs that they can effectuate the greatest amount of positive change through service to their community rather than with their vote.  Through at least 2004 it is apparent that students have maintained a "lack of interest, trust, and knowledge about American politics, politicians, and public life-and are generally cynical about America's future" (5).
     
       However, the authors do mention that, "a vast majority of college students were active in the 2004 election" (7).  In addition, these later studies revealed a renewed trust in the government and interest in political affairs.  It is suggested this could be related to September 11th.  Moreover, students still remain more interested in serving the community directly than exercising their right to vote.  They also emphasize issues such as race relations, the state of public education, and socially responsible business practices.  And even regarding these issues, students tend to approach them through activism rather than voting.

      My only concern with this particular literature review is that it is from 2006, and the research it includes only extends to about 2004, which is 12 years ago already.  Although I do not yet have research to back up my suspicions, I believe that college aged students became more politically involved with the Obama campaign in 2008 and now, with the Bernie Sanders campaign for 2016.  Next, I will attempt to find a more recent piece to see if my suspicions are accurate.



Quotes: 
       "Alienation- a catchall term combining cynicism, distrust, low efficacy, and apathy-is the most widespread characterization of this generation (5)." [1998]

"While it might be argued that these optimistic views on government, which are much higher than for older generations, are partly due to different levels of information, they are an important indicator of the positive civic attitudes of young people (7)." [2002]

"Her questionnaires demonstrated that current students are more interested in politics (58.1 percent in 1996, to 60.8 in 2000), believed voting was a civic duty (76.3 percent in 1996, to 81.8 percent in 2000), and were less cynical and apathetic (57.2 percent believed their vote matter in 1996, to 61.2 percent in 2000) (7)."

"Years of decline in political participation coincided with an unprecedented high rate of involvement in community service among college students, and young people more generally (8)."

"Students are simply placing their energies where they feel they can make a difference (9)."

"Boyte (1991) also points out that service 'does not teach the political skills that are needed to work effectively toward solving society's problems: public judgment, the collaborative exercise of power, conflict resolution, negotiating, bargaining, and holding others accountable' (766) (9)."

"'Millennials are hard at work on a grassroots reconstruction of community, teamwork, and civic spirit...' These young people have a 'very strong sense of the common good and of collective social and civic responsibility' (231) (12)."

"But there needs to be better civic education, and higher education must to do a better job offering opportunities for public engagement (13)."