Contenu du sommaire : Jeunes en Europe : politique et citoyenneté.

Young people and Politics in Europe and in France - Many observers (idealising their own past ?) bemoan the depolitization of youth. This article, relying on the results of international surveys (especially surveys on values, but also Eurobarometers and French electoral surveys, demonstrates on the contrary that in the course of recent years there has been visible depolitization of young people. Certainly politicians are not so appreciated and electoral participation is declining amongst young people and even young adults. But various forms of civic participation are emerging and developping new forms of expression, demonstrations and rallying on specific issues.

Young people and politics after German reunification -Progress towards normality or a step nearer to a crisis ? - The reunification of Germany has been succeeded by a general tendency amongst young prople to the homogenization of representations and values. Although most of them display little interest in the classical forms of politics, neither do they reject them entirely and they is a noticeable development of non-institutional forms of participation. There also appears to be a general increase in the post materialistic values of young people (personal empowerment, hedonism) which does not exclude an attachment to more traditional values (sense of duty and of effort) amongst young people from German Democratic Republic.

An overview of the situation in Italy based on IARD survey data - According to the 1996 IARD survey, young Italians are more interested in politics, with an upsurge of interest in traditional political parties and a marked move to the right. Their lack of confidence in State institutions is sustained as is their tendency to favour (on a scale of values) areas of private life. However, this evolution can hardly be translated as an expression of participative commitment and concrete action.

Towards an anthropology of citizenship. (France -Great-Britain) : A comparative approach - Attempting to define citizenship means also taking into account history, a context, practises and debates. Hence the relevance of an anthropological approach, which sees citizenship as much as a relationship with the State as a relationship between citizens, and also takes a look at its connection with sociabilities, territories, forms of legitimization, without reducing it to such. With this in mind, the comparative approach to youth representation in two working-class districts of London and Roubaix leads us to portray citizenship, less in essence but as constructive and practical.

Social and citizens identities in Catalonia and Spain : From Franccism to the present day - How do we set about shaping the citizen's identities of young people in Europe at the turn of the century ? Are there characteristic in the situation of those countries which have endured a dictatorship and strive to construct a multi-national State ? This article provides elements of thought on the citizenship of young Spaniards and Catalans since Franccism. It considers citizenship as a form of political construction of identity, unstable interactive product between political institutions and youtb microcultures.

Young people, Citizenship, Europe : Some comments on the everyday representations of citizenship in France - The analysis of "everyday" representations of the French version of citizenship highlights a tension between two models, citizenship •as a legacy” and citizenship as "a conscientious cause" (more the line taken by young people). The former model sees Europe as an inescapable extension of the nation, the latter reasons more in terms of universalism. But both are distancing themselves from a more political approach to citizenship.

Cultural change and political positioning of young Europeans - The concept of post materialism, as defined by Inglehart with regard to young people caters for a broad range of values and attitudes. Hence individualism, as the main focus of post materialism, can be put to the use of various political orientations, left and right. Even if nationalism only affects a tenth of the youth population of Europe, they can influence a larger proportion of the population. Many young people, voicing a strong need for security take refuge in the local community Some young people through lack of education run the risk of becoming marginalised. These phenomena challenge the democratic institutions both in the way they function and their durability.

Nordic Youth -Mediterranean Youth -Young Europeans and Europe - The idea of Europe is in the process of leaving the sphere of politician, of administrators, of experts to take to the streets. Young people have picked up on it, placing all their hopes for a better future in the advent of Europe. But the survey portrays important and significant differences between young people from Nordic countries and those living in Mediterranean countries, differences concerning both their modes of involvement in social life, their confidence in the Europeanisation process or their concept of citizenship. Here we come across the multi secular divisions on which Europe was built. The Catholic Europe of the South in conflict with the Protestantism which has spread throughout the North. This is the anthropological hypothesis. However, unequal economic development and a differentiated role of the protective State should also be invoked. Add to that the strength of national identity as a factor liable to affect the attitude of young people with regard to Europe.

The expectations of secondary school pupils with regard to the opening up of school and citizenship training. - According to a sociological survey on the expectations of secondary school pupils, published in 1993-1994, there is a huge request for a particular domain which can be defined as this : understand the world in which we live. This request can be divided into two themes : a proper understanding of current events, discuss the concerns and issues of present day society. Pupils are not so inclined to address questions of moral (an offputting word) or values. Whereas they are especially keen to think about and discuss the previous themes so long as they are left to make their own voices and judgements. As for the methods, there is definite rejection of an academic approach in favour of learning through discussion, guest speakers, use of audiovisual material, presentations and proposals of pupils themselves.

The training of professional youth workers in Aquitaine (survey 1996) - A summary of the principle results of a survey carried out in 1996 in the Aquitaine region, with a main focus on the perception and understanding of professionals with regard to their profession, their work and their activities. Most of the youth workers held a post and had followed a level 2 or 3 in service training. What comes to the fore when they portray themselves in their functions, their skills, the necessary qualities to fulfill their profession ? Are there significant variations in the discursive arguments ? Here are some of the key questions which the article seeks to address.