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International issues like terrorism and climate change confirm the inescapability of politics and the significant impact the United States has on the world, for better or worse. Despite the importance of American politics, there is disturbing evidence that young Americans are politically less engaged than their predecessors. Given these concerns, political sociologist Paul Lachelier conducts in-depth interviews with young American professionals -- whose work, as professionals, inclines them to be more politically active -- to learn what they think about politics, community and citizenship. Lachelier's interviews reveal that some young Americans uphold what he calls a "civil-civic citizenship" which stresses politeness and charity, but eschews politics, especially partisan and collective politics. Lachelier contends that this civil-civic citizenship is in some ways politically disengaging because it prioritizes forms of individualism inimical to collective action.
About the author
Paul Lachelier is the founder of Learning Life, an educational nonprofit, and a sociologist who writes about American politics, education, and citizen engagement. He holds a B.A. from Georgetown University, an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and has taught at Stetson, Harvard, Tufts and the University of Wisconsin.
