If democratic societies are to survive as true democracies, they need citizens who are informed, concerned and active. How such citizens develop from childhood into adults is crucial information for educators, psychologist, young people, parents, politicians and many, many others. This watershed work brings an understanding to the disparate activist youth groups internationally as well as the interdisciplinary research that explores this phenomena. Featuring 185 original entries-from chatrooms, to grass roots movements, from gangs and politics to Riot GRRLS and Campus Crusade for Christ-this authoritative source lends insight and explanation to the history as well as contemporary forms of youth commitment today. First-person accounts from today's youth activists as well as adult activists illuminate the journey from young idealist to lifelong work.



The major categories that frame this work are advocacy for social causes; adolescent and youth development; education; historical examples; media and internet infulence and use; national examples of activism and social movement; organizations and programs; political context; postive youth development; social background factors, e.g., economic class, race, ethnicity, gender and culture; social relationships and networks; voices of activism; and youth culture.