On 26 January 2026, the REDIRECT Project will host an online lunch debate dedicated to the topic Young voters and young non-voters: Youth abstention — reasons and strategies to reconnect. The debate will examine the growing generational divides in democratic participation and explored how disengagement among younger cohorts is reshaping representative democracy across Europe.
The event will bring together scholars and practitioners working on political behavior, electoral participation, and youth engagement, including:
Kaat Smets (Royal Holloway, University of London) — Reader in Politics
Davide Angelucci (Unitelma Sapienza, Rome) — Assistant Professor
Kevin Meyvaert (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) — PhD Researcher in Political Science
Claudio Cozzi Fucile (University of Siena) — City Councilor & PhD Researcher in Social Sciences and Humanities
Moderation is provided by Elisabetta Mannoni and Marco Improta (University of Siena).
The lunch debate is part of REDIRECT’s ongoing dissemination and engagement activities aimed at understanding and addressing representative disconnect through analytical, participatory, and experimental formats.
Date: 21 January 2026
Location: Siena, Italy
Partner: University of Siena (UNISI)
#YouthAbstention #PoliticalParticipation #GenerationalDivide #DemocraticInnovation #REDIRECT