Civic participation among the youth: A case study in Hanoi, Vietnam

Tóm tắt

This research examines the extent of civic participation among young individuals in the capital of Vietnam and investigates the factors influencing their decision to do so. Using a mixed method of qualitative and quantitative approach, the research reveals that young people in Hanoi exhibit a moderate to high level of latent political participation, which includes activities in a social group, volunteering, donating, online engagement and consumerist behavior. This is due to the sense of civic responsibility and interest in sociopolitical issues that motivate young people to participate in these forms. However, when it comes to manifest political forms under the government’s channels such as voting, contacting officials, and political organization activities, the numbers decrease. The explaining reason is that such participation depend on mobilization by the Communist Party of Vietnam and information efficacy of young people, which is still limited. Both the quesstionnair data and the interview results consistently demonstrate the significant influence of resource and social trust on civic participation overall. Through these findings, the research concludes that young people participate not too actively but also not too passively. It then provides some policy implications aimed at creating a healthier participatory environment where young people can make greater contributions to their society.