Young people's political participation in Portugal - young political elites

Abstract

This article presents the results of an opinion poll among those who participated in the congresses of young people's party organizations, with the aim of understanding the socialization and mobilization of young political elites, as well as their political personality, their achievements and expectations with regard to political power. The political participation and identification of these young people is deeply affected by social, professional and educational differences as well as by their own socialization that is created either by transmission from generation to generation or within the same generation and a great deal by the media. It also varies according to the position on the left /right scale and the political and ideological divisions. Pragmatism prevails in the organizations which are closer to government power, while post-materialism is a phenomenon of the left wing rather than of the right wing organizations. Political parties are largely responsible for adhesion to youth organizations. The various representations of power and the different behaviour towards it also vary with the political and ideological positions, and the effects of the party alignment of the youth organizations are well known.