Prominent studies and opinion polls often claim to show that young people distrust politicians, they are disengaged from political institutions, and are disillusioned about democracy. But academic work conversely shows that young peopleareengaging with politics, merely in new and innovative ways.

Young People, Citizenship and Political Participationresponds to the gap between the claims of these findings. It explores whether, and how, young people work with and against contemporary politics - at institutional and grassroots levels. It also examines the role of civics education in addressing this so-called crisis of democracy. Instead of seeing civics education as the solution, they offer an approach to civics that acknowledges the increasingly diverse ways in which young people are engaging politically.

Mark Chou is an Associate Professor of Politics at the Australian Catholic University.

Jean-Paul Gagnon is an Assistant Professor of Politics at the University of Canberra.

Catherine Hartung is a Lecturer in Education Studies at the University of Otago.

Lesley Pruitt is a Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at Monash University.

1. Preface. / 2. Disengaged: young people and political disengagement in Anglo-American democracies / 3. Democracy in Crisis: are young people to blame? / 4. Civics Education: defender or divider of democracy? / 5. Different Ways, Different Domains: the everyday politics of young people / 6. Brexit, Bono, and the Entrepreneurial Self: young peoples participation as global citizens / 7. Co-Designed: a new approach to civics and citizenship.