Civic Engagement Definition

Defining Civic Engagement

“In recent years, a chorus of critics and educators has expressed alarm about the disengagement of young people generally from politics and public affairs in the United States” (Boyte). Perhaps because civic engagement has become synonymous with a run for Senate. Perhaps because we are trying to measure the comprehension of political affairs in the minds of children. Or maybe we overlook the fact that in confining civic engagement to that which consists of voter participation and all things electoral in nature, we isolate a large and important audience. When I think of civic engagement I think of a reform in mindset, rather than an actual reform in law. Part of this notion comes from an understanding that civic

Latent is defined as “not yet developed or manifest”, which I would certainly apply to portions of my definition of civic engagement. Latent, a much preferable term to, let’s say, dormant considers my notion that civic engagement is synonymous with change. “This notion of latency is based on the simple observation that citizens actually do a lot of things that may not be directly or unequivocally classified as political participation but at the same time could be of great significance for future political activities” (Ekman). This adheres to the part of my definition solely concerning political action. But, it is important to note that civic engagement is not confined to a strict political sphere. That is to say, civic engagement does not have to be political for it to be considered engagement.This seems to be the greatest battle in the search for definition- this single minded typology that “civic engagement is a necessary but not in itself sufficient condition for political participation” (Ekman). Research, discussion, anything needed to achieve something in the community is civic engagement. Whether it ends in a grocery store or on the steps of the Capitol, it is civic engagement. Consider Public Achievement, a group that empowered young

It considers political action, but also maintains that pre political involvement- whether it can be measured or not- still resides in the same civic engagement ideology. Most importantly my definition embraces the acceptance of perpetually changing mindsets along with the potential to become more active whether it be on a local, state, or national level. With the right environment and the right conversation, civic engagement can be defined as almost anything- all it takes is one person to spark up an interest in the world around them. If I had to find one word that civic engagement is not- it is not selfish. There is no place for introspection, only a wild and effervescent fascination with one’s