Becoming Political - Adolescence & The Future of Democracy

A one-day conference, at the School of Advanced Study, University of London.

When

Thursday 11th June @ 9.30am - 5.30pm

Where

In-person @ Senate Room, Senate House, School of Advanced Study, University of London, Malet Street, London.

Conference Overview

Becoming Political: Adolescence & The Future of Democracy is a one-day conference bringing together members of the Marie Curie Doctoral Network, Interdisciplinary Perspectives on the Politics of Adolescence & Democracy (https://www.ippad.eu/), alongside academics and policymakers, to explore how young people become democratic citizens in a rapidly changing world.

The conference will focus on youth political attitudes and participation across Europe and beyond. By comparing similarities and differences across national and global contexts in both Europe and Africa, it will reflect on what current patterns of youth engagement reveal about the future of democracy. The IPPAD network will also present key findings on the development of political cognition during adolescence, offering new insights into how young people form political understandings, identities, and capacities for democratic engagement.

The conference will then turn to key challenges facing youth and democracy today, with a focus on the role of social media, artificial intelligence, and civic education in shaping adolescents’ political development. It will open up the discussion on how digital technologies and educational practices influence young people’s capacity to engage critically, participate meaningfully, and navigate democratic life.

Speakers & Panelists

• Mara Almeida, Joint Research Centre (JRC), European Commission

• Abigail Branford, University of Oxford, African Studies Centre / Oxford School of Global and Area Studies

• Andreu Casas, London Social Media Observatory, Royal Holloway, University of London

• Billie Dunne, The Electoral Commission

• Dan Lawes, My Life My Say

• Katja Salomo, University of Kassel

• Laura Serra, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), Department of Government

• James Sloam, Royal Holloway, University of London

And members of the IP-PAD Doctoral Network :

• Irene Arahal, Royal Holloway, University of London

• Olaf Borghi, Royal Holloway, University of London

• Bert Bakker, Amsterdam School of Communication Research, University of Amsterdam 

• Gustavo Couto de Jesus, University of Amsterdam

• Xenia Chryssochoou, Panteion University   

• Nina Chatsisvili, University of Amsterdam

• Jakob Kasper, University of Amsterdam

• Jule Kegel, University of Vienna

• Anna Knorr, Jagiellonian University

• Mykyta Kovalov, University of Vienna

• Malgorzata Kossowska, Jagiellonian University

• Céline Laffineur, University of Amsterdam

• Claus Lamm, University of Vienna

• Yufang (Arya) Liao, University of Vienna

• Christiana Nika, Jagiellonian University

• Melina Niraki, Panteion University

• Manos Tsakiris, Royal Holloway, University of London; Centre for the Politics of Feelings, University of London 

• Ermioni Seremeta, Panteion University

• Kaat Smets, Royal Holloway, University of London

• Markus Wagner, Department of Government, University of Vienna

Full programme available soon.

Registration

Attendance is free but places are limited, so register at the link below.

Register