Therese O’Toole (University of Bristol)

Amid concerns about citizen disaffection across established democracies, a growing area of interest among many researchers and policy makers are expressions of new and alternative forms of political action – prompted by the possibility that citizens’ political engagement in the present period is changing, rather than simply declining. In particular, it is suggested that citizens are increasingly engaging in more direct, ‘DIY’ and informal modes of participation, or taking up new, ‘creative’ repertoires of political action. Some of these forms of action may take recourse to new technologies and virtual forms of activism, or arise through engagement with new forms of networked governance, or emerge through ‘subpolitical’ action in self-organised groups of citizens to directly address issues that concern them, or are expressed through lifestyle politics, rather than through membership of political parties, trade unions or other formal political organisations. These may even be underpinned by new political subjectivities that are more personal and less collectivist, and more culturally oriented than previously. It is sometimes thought that changing grammars of action may be particular relevant to the young. The significance of such forms of participation stands in need of further empirical research, however, and the extent and implications of changing grammars of action across different groups of citizens are not well understood. Feminist and identity politics movements have done much to expand the boundaries of the political – asserting the politics of the personal and making identity concerns politically salient. At the same time, the ways in which identities are expressed are often said to be more complex, hybrid and multiple. This potentially has implications for contemporary expressions of identity politics. For example, are identity politics movements relevant to ethnic minority young people? Based on qualitative research with ethnic minority young activists in the UK, this paper explores: what are the implications of changing identities and grammars of action for ethnic minority young people’s politics?

Therese O’Toole is Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Bristol, where she is based in the Centre for Ethnicity and Citizenship and School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies. Her research interests are focused on political participation and mobilisation among young people and minority ethnic and religious groups, and participatory and urban governance. She is currently completing a co-authored book on ethnic minority young activists based on a research project funded by the Leverhulme Trust. She is also Principal Investigator on a new research project on Muslim Participation in Contemporary Governance (funded by the AHRC/ESRC Religion and Society Programme), which explores the recognition, participation and impact of Muslims within UK governance at national and local levels.

Time: 29 April, 13.15-15.00
Venue: Uni Rokkansenteret, Nygårdsgaten 5, 6. etg (5th Floor)

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