The impact of intolerance on young people"s online political participation Articles uri icon

publication date

  • February 2022

start page

  • 95

end page

  • 127

issue

  • 1

volume

  • 42

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0263-3957

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1467-9256

abstract

  • This article investigates the impact of intolerance on online political participation among young Europeans. Based on the theoretical insights of (in)tolerance, political participation, youth, and media studies, we explore whether and to what extent intolerant attitudes drive young people"s online political participation. In doing this, we draw on original survey data with booster samples for young people, covering nine European countries. Our results show that intolerance leads to more online political activities among young people. However, these individuals are not socially isolated and marginalised; in fact, the effect of intolerant attitudes on online political engagement is reinforced by participation in offline unconventional forms of participation and social capital. Our findings bear important consequences for the understanding of intolerant attitudes, youth politics, and (online) political participation.

subjects

  • Sociology

keywords

  • intolerance; online political participation; social capital; youth