Viggo Vestel

The Art of Articulation: Political Engagement and Social Movements in the Making among Young Adults in Multicultural Settings in Norway

Participation in conventional politics, such as elections, membership of organizations and political parties, is relatively low among young adults of ethnic minority background. Instead, engagement seems to find its way through aesthetic and other expressive channels of influence drawing on new technologies, impulses from transnational youth culture traditions, and both street riots and less conflictual actions. The aim of this article is to grasp a potential social movement in the making, by exploring the processes of articulation through which young people from immigrant families in Norway express their political engagement. The phenomenon of articulation is understood as a process comprising three steps or modes: (i) becoming conscious; (ii) generating expressions and (iii) collective action. We explore the relevance of the aesthetic dimensions in all three modes. As a point of departure, we present three ‘critical events’ that have generated resonance at both the individual and collective level. The empirical basis consists of interviews with young adults who, in terms of articulation, took part in the mobilizations that followed in the wake of these events.

A community of differences: Social relations, popular culture and leisure in a multicultural suburb, in “Rudenga”, East side Oslo

Abstract In recent leisure research, the need to broaden the understanding of the relationship between leisure and ethnicity by focusing more explicitly upon the dynamic and emergent properties of the latter, has been pointed out. Based on a case study of a multicultural youth club in Norway, the aim of the present article is to explore how some elements from popular culture and other available signs and practices “at hand” in the reflexive and joy-oriented sphere of leisure, interact with impulses from the traditions of the families of the youngsters and serve as central “building blocks” for the development of a local community. This, in turn, reflects a certain competence and creativity in the handling of ethnic difference and identity in a multicultural situation. The author argues that these processes also enhance patterns of identification that largely seem to justify the use of the notion of “hybridization”, and that in this case clearly exemplify a dynamic and “elastic” handling of ethnic identity.

‘Look into My Eyes’: Music, Religion, and the Politics of Muslim Youth in Norway

In this article we explore the role of music in shaping and publicizing religious and political subjectivities and belonging among young Muslims in Norway. The article discusses practices of producing and listening to music in light of theories about ‘counterpublics’ and their soundscapes, the religious and the secular, and majority-minority relations. Musical soundscapes produced and consumed by young Muslims, the article argues, give voice to experiences and sentiments that are marginalized within mainstream cultural productions, and articulate both consensus and dissensus with national political institutions’ concepts and norms.

At risk for radicalization and jihadism? A population-based study of Norwegian adolescents

Little is known about attitudes among ordinary adolescents in favour of the use of political violence and radicalization. We draw on a survey from a population sample of adolescents (n = 8627) in the Norwegian capital, Oslo. We first compared adolescents with Muslim, Christian and no religious affiliation with regard to attitudes in favour of the use of violence for political purposes and support of those who go to Syria to take part in active combat. Muslim youth reported higher levels of support for the use of violence to obtain societal change than did other adolescents. The same pattern was revealed with regard to support for the fighters in Syria. After control for other variables, Muslim affiliation had no impact on attitudes in favour of politically motivated violence, though it remained significant for support for the fighters in Syria. However, here as well we found associations with poor school grades, conduct problems and exposure to violence, possibly indicating an emerging adolescent ‘outsider’ position. Political activity on social media also played a role. Such attitudes rarely develop into politically motivated violence and jihadism. However, for a small minority, they may represent the first step in that direction.