A afeição/desafeição dos jovens na política

: um estudo de caso sobre comportamentos juvenis na actividade política

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation is to understand the way young people live today's politics in Portugal, translating the like or dislike for the matter. The democratic scenario after the 25th of April, created room for the exercise of citizenship and the freedom of speech, both fundamental for the electoral exercise. Notwithstanding, the young people of today present high levels of abstention in electoral acts, which led us to investigate this matter. To test the factors that led or not to the electoral vote and to the participation in street demonstrations, we base our analysis on the statistic data provided by CESOP - Centro de Estudos e Sondagens de Opinião da Universidade Católica Portuguesa, in various moments in time from 2011 and 2012. The qualitative analysis was established in the interpretation of facts, in light of several motivation and communication theories. We have conducted a photographic gathering of the demonstrations, of political nature, where young people expressed themselves, with the purpose of proceeding to an analysis of gestures, expressions (both vocal and written) and behaviors. Such elements constitute the grounds for some of the deductions we present. We sought to accommodate the options demonstrated by the young people in the theoretical board of motivational and communicational approaches we selected. According to the statistical analysis of the results, we concluded that the single people are the ones who contribute the most for the vote, as well as for the abstention; and that the main reason young people give is the fact that they are not registered. As for the mass demonstrations, we noticed that although young people value them, the percentage of those who attend them is low (especially men). In light of the results obtained, we perceive that it is still necessary for young people, in the territory of participation in the political life of its country, to do a more aware work of sharing, of sense of responsibility and solidarity, which presumes a training and education that can help imprint and consolidate the obligation, and we might say, the taste, for the democratic participation, aware of a full citizenship and a better tomorrow.

Date of Award	20 Sept 2012
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Cristina Tavares Salgado (Supervisor)