The Civic Engagement of Young Immigrants: Why Does It Matter?

摘要

This special issue is devoted to the civic engagement ofrnyoung immigrants in the United States. In this commentary,rnI ask why civic engagement is important, why wernshould especially be concerned about young people’srnengagement, and (finally) why immigrant youth are anrnimportant subgroup.rnCivic engagement is a contested term whose definitionrnvaries depending on our conception of the good societyrnand our beliefs about how individuals should behave.rnReasonable people debate whether starting a business,rnraising one’s younger siblings, confronting a neighborrnwho uses prejudiced language, enlisting in the military,rnresisting authority by working inefficiently, or planningrnan insurrection should count as civic engagement. Thernauthors of this volume have investigated many (butrnnot all) unpaid, legal, and nonviolent ways of addressingrnsocial problems and issues. They give particular attentionrnto voting, volunteering, joining associations, andrnholding leadership positions.