Maria Fernandes-Jesus

Education and Citizenship: Redemption or Disempowerment? A Study of Portuguese-Speaking Migrant (and Non-Migrant) Youth in Portugal

The institution of the European Union has had important implications on educational policies throughout Europe, with a growing emphasis on ‘Citizenship Education’ since the mid-1990s. This can be interpreted as a response to phenomena such as the rise of ethnocentrism and xenophobia and of political disaffection of both older and younger citizens. Departing from Weilers notion of educational reform as compensatory legitimation, this article analyses the case of migrant youth in Portugal, which is particularly interesting for two reasons. The first is that migrant policies in Portugal have been extremely well evaluated by international agencies, in terms of their potential for the inclusion of migrants. The second is the fact that the migrant groups considered here, Angolans and Brazilians, both have Portuguese as their first language, hence not facing a ‘classical’ barrier to social inclusion. The research presents Portuguese data collected under the European project, Processes Influencing Democratic Ownership and Participation (PIDOP), and confronts the vision of policy makers, national and migrant youths, their parents, and their teachers. On the whole, results suggest that there is a huge gap between educational policy and the real life of schools that partly explains the (dis)empowerment of both migrant and national youth. However, in looking at this process, we must also recognise the complex role of generational factors, cultural capital, and political structures (both in the home and host contexts) in explaining youth civic and political engagement and participation.

The many faces of hermes: The quality of participation experiences and political attitudes of migrant and non-migrant youth

This paper intends to explore whether and how the quality of participation experiences is associated with political efficacy and the disposition of migrant and non-migrant young people to becoming involved. The sample includes 1010 young people of Portuguese, Angolan and Brazilian origin, aged between 15 and 29 years old. The results reveal that the quality of participation experiences is related to political efficacy and dispositions to becoming involved, but different groups seem to react differently to different forms of political action.

Validation of the drinking motives questionnaire - revised in six European countries

Highlights •This paper assesses the validity of the DMQ-R (Cooper, 1994) among university students in six different European countries. •Results provide support for similar DMQ-R factor structures across countries. •Drinking motives have similar meanings among European university students.

Participação cívica e política: jovens imigrantes brasileiros/as em Portugal

In this paper we analyse views, levels and experiences of participation of young people of Brazilian origin living in Portugal. Using data collected through focus groups discussions (N=29) we present youth views and meanings about participation, knowledge about their political rights and main sources of influence. Additionally, using results from the survey (N= 357) we report types and levels of civic and political participation. In addition, we explore levels of political interest, political attentiveness and perceived effectiveness of participation. The results are discussed through a broad conception of civic and political participation and contrasting the results from the focus groups and the survey. Based on the results, we conclude that participation of young Brazilian is a complex issue that includes cognitive dimensions and varies according age, gender and cultural capital.

Participación cívica y política: la juventud inmigrante de Brasil en Portugal

In this paper we analyse views, levels and experiences of participation of young people of Brazilian origin living in Portugal. Using data collected through focus groups discussions (N=29) we present youth views and meanings about participation, knowledge about their political rights and main sources of influence. Additionally, using results from the survey (N= 357) we report types and levels of civic and political participation. In addition, we explore levels of political interest, political attentiveness and perceived effectiveness of participation. The results are discussed through a broad conception of civic and political participation and contrasting the results from the focus groups and the survey. Based on the results, we conclude that participation of young Brazilian is a complex issue that includes cognitive dimensions and varies according age, gender and cultural capital.

Civic and political participation: young people of Brazilian origin in Portugal

In this paper we analyse views, levels and experiences of participation of young people of Brazilian origin living in Portugal. Using data collected through focus groups discussions (N=29) we present youth views and meanings about participation, knowledge about their political rights and main sources of influence. Additionally, using results from the survey (N= 357) we report types and levels of civic and political participation. In addition, we explore levels of political interest, political attentiveness and perceived effectiveness of participation. The results are discussed through a broad conception of civic and political participation and contrasting the results from the focus groups and the survey. Based on the results, we conclude that participation of young Brazilian is a complex issue that includes cognitive dimensions and varies according age, gender and cultural capital.