New political practices of Chilean youths: 2000-2008 accumulated knowledge

Abstract

This article is the state of the art of what has been written about the new political practices of male and female Chilean youths from 2000 to nowadays. It refers to two entry data: the low participation of youth in electoral processes and the high level of mistrust displayed by youths with reference to political institutions and politicians. It also states that there are three hypotheses concerning this matter: political disaffection (apathy, disinterest); displacement of responsibility in the course of time (prolongation of adolescence and moratorium) and the existence of new political practices that reveal a new way to see, understand and practice politics, thus distancing from traditional forms. With reference to this last issue, it explores the explanations to support their veracity and relevance. It also identifies the new authors and concepts being used in the works inscribed in the last hypothesis, and indicates the distinctive characteristics of these new political practices that are found in the works empirically based on this matter: horizontality of the organization (direct democracy), political action as cultural action, the value of direct action logics, primacy of permanently based work on electoral activity, the importance of network ( and the use of new communication technologies), the acceptance and respect for differences that are present in the organization, and the vital importance of self-management (non-dependence).

Keywords: youth, politics, new political practices.