On 14 August 2024, Kevin Mayvaert (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) presented a paper at the ECPR General Conference at University College Dublin, titled “Representative Disconnect among Vulnerable Brussels Youth”.
The paper explores the roots of political disconnection among young people living in economically and socially marginalised neighbourhoods in Brussels. Drawing on focus group research conducted as part of REDIRECT, it analyses how participants perceive political representation, institutional trust, and democratic participation, and how these perceptions have evolved in the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis.
The research highlights patterns of exclusion, frustration, and distance from formal politics, while also pointing to potential strategies for re-engagement. These include context-sensitive outreach, participatory mechanisms, and recognition of youth perspectives in policymaking processes.
By foregrounding the lived experiences of disengaged youth, the paper makes a vital contribution to REDIRECT’s Work Package 8 and to broader efforts to understand and reduce democratic disconnect across Europe’s most vulnerable communities.
Date: 14 August 2024
Location: ECPR General Conference, University College Dublin, Ireland
Partner: Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
Author: Kevin Mayvaert
Type of event: Conference/Paper presentation
#YouthDisengagement #PoliticalRepresentation #Brussels #REDIRECT #ECPR2024