From Apathy to Activism: Tracing the Changing Political Attitudes and Behaviours among Young Kenyans
(2024) STVK12 20241Department of Political Science
- Abstract (Swedish)
- This thesis investigates the evolving political attitudes and behaviours toward democracy among young Kenyans, examining whether they are becoming increasingly apathetic toward democracy or are evolving innovative democratic behaviours. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research combines quantitative data from Afrobarometer surveys with qualitative interviews with Kenyan youths conducted during fieldwork in Nairobi. The findings indicate a decline in traditional political participation, such as voting and party membership, among the Kenyan youth. However, this apparent political apathy is contrasted by a rise in alternative forms of political engagement, such as community meetings and digital activism. The study reveals that while... (More)
- This thesis investigates the evolving political attitudes and behaviours toward democracy among young Kenyans, examining whether they are becoming increasingly apathetic toward democracy or are evolving innovative democratic behaviours. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research combines quantitative data from Afrobarometer surveys with qualitative interviews with Kenyan youths conducted during fieldwork in Nairobi. The findings indicate a decline in traditional political participation, such as voting and party membership, among the Kenyan youth. However, this apparent political apathy is contrasted by a rise in alternative forms of political engagement, such as community meetings and digital activism. The study reveals that while dissatisfaction with political authorities and disillusionment with political elites drive this apathy, there is also a growing structural support for democratic institutions. Young Kenyans are not abandoning democratic values but are instead seeking new ways to engage and demand accountability from their democratic institutions. This thesis contributes to understanding the complex dynamics of evolving political attitudes and behaviour among youths in emerging democracies. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9153325
- author
- Gaard, Lauritz Elias LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- STVK12 20241
- year
- 2024
- type
- M2 - Bachelor Degree
- subject
- keywords
- political apathy, antipathy, youth engagement, democracy, Kenya.
- language
- English
- id
- 9153325
- date added to LUP
- 2024-07-18 13:52:37
- date last changed
- 2024-07-18 13:52:37
@misc{9153325,
abstract = {{This thesis investigates the evolving political attitudes and behaviours toward democracy among young Kenyans, examining whether they are becoming increasingly apathetic toward democracy or are evolving innovative democratic behaviours. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research combines quantitative data from Afrobarometer surveys with qualitative interviews with Kenyan youths conducted during fieldwork in Nairobi. The findings indicate a decline in traditional political participation, such as voting and party membership, among the Kenyan youth. However, this apparent political apathy is contrasted by a rise in alternative forms of political engagement, such as community meetings and digital activism. The study reveals that while dissatisfaction with political authorities and disillusionment with political elites drive this apathy, there is also a growing structural support for democratic institutions. Young Kenyans are not abandoning democratic values but are instead seeking new ways to engage and demand accountability from their democratic institutions. This thesis contributes to understanding the complex dynamics of evolving political attitudes and behaviour among youths in emerging democracies.}},
author = {{Gaard, Lauritz Elias}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{From Apathy to Activism: Tracing the Changing Political Attitudes and Behaviours among Young Kenyans}},
year = {{2024}},
}