The political socialization of Latinx youth in a conservative political context.

Drawing on semi-structured interviews, participant observations, surveys, and voting records, this mixed-methods study investigates Latinx youths' political socialization and grassroots organizing efforts in a conservative, anti-immigrant regional context. This investigation makes three contributions. First, findings suggest that under hostile political contexts, vertical (adult-to-youth) forms of political socialization may rarely guide Latinx youth in taking political action, and may sometimes even discourage participation. Second, we show that, despite political opposition, youth organizing groups can function as vehicles of horizontal (peer-to-peer) socialization, bolstering members' political engagement and providing them with valuable civic knowledge and skills. Third, youth-led grassroots mobilization efforts can increase young voter turnout, as evidenced by our experimental findings. We argue that grassroots youth organizing groups can empower their members to operate as agents of political socialization among a peer constituency that extends far beyond their friendship networks and schoolmates. • Conservative regional contexts can constrain marginalized youths' political participation. • Vertical political socialization (from adults to youth) can suppress political participation. • Horizontal socialization (peer-to-peer) can catalyze marginalized youths' political participation. • Youth organizing groups can prepare members to function as agents of political socialization. • Voter mobilization experimental findings evidence peer effects on voter turnout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]