Making citizens of the world: the political socialization of youth in formal mass education systems

• Published in: Compare Vol. 41; no. 5; pp. 561 - 577
• Main Authors: Wiseman, Alexander W., Astiz, M. Fernanda, Fabrega, Rodrigo, Baker, David P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Routledge 01.09.2011; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Age Differences; citizenship; Citizenship Education; CIVED 99; Civics; Cross Cultural Studies; Democracy; Expectation; Foreign Countries; Gender Differences; hierarchical linear modeling; Human Capital; Knowledge; Knowledge Level; mass education; Mass Instruction; Mathematics Achievement; Peer Influence; Political Attitudes; Political Socialization; Politics; Public Education; Public schools; Reading Achievement; Skill Development; Social Attitudes; Social Justice; Socialization; Student attitudes; supra-national citizens; Teacher Competencies; world polity; Youth participation
• ISSN: 0305-7925; 1469-3623
• DOI: 10.1080/03057925.2010.530764

Unique cross-national data on adolescents' civic skills, knowledge, and political attitudes are used to examine the democratic processes of modern mass schooling, effects of national political systems, and patterns of youth political socialization in 27 nations. Compared to the generally weak reported effects on mathematics and reading achievement, we find robust effects of schooling on youths' civics knowledge, skills, and attitudes. Secondly, there is empirical support for the importance of a supra-national political culture, beyond that of unique national cultures, in the political socialization of youth. Lastly, there is evidence of an emerging common polity among youth across nations. The results extend notions of the institutional influence of mass public schooling on the political socialization of youth.