Political Efficacy and Expected Political Participation among Lower and Upper Secondary Students. A Comparative Analysis with Data from the IEA Civic Education Study

The process of political socialisation of adolescents includes more than the acquisition of knowledge about society, citizenship and the political system. In a democracy, citizens are expected to participate actively in the political process. Active participation, however, requires citizens to believe in their own ability to influence the course of politics, in other words, to feel politically efficacious. Therefore, enhancing control beliefs and the willingness to act politically could be viewed as important areas of civic and citizenship education. This paper examines changes in levels and relationships regarding efficacy and expected participation using data from students at different stages of political socialisation. It uses data collected during the two surveys of the IEA Civic Education Study and comprises two age groups: 14-year-old lower secondary students (grade 8 or 9) and upper secondary students (grade 11 or 12). Data from lower and upper secondary students in ten countries show that levels of political efficacy and expectations to participate politically as an adult change during the process of political socialisation. Self-confidence in dealing with politics increases and so do expectations to participate in elections in later life. However, beliefs in the responsiveness of the political system weaken and older students have lower expectations to become actively involved in politics in adult life. (Contains 9 footnotes, 7 figures and 17 tables.)