Subjective states: Narratives of citizenship among young Europeans

For a century in Western democracies practical citizenship has consistently fallen short of the ideal proposed by theory. By the end of the Progressive Era social thought had articulated the ideal and begun the complaints that continue today, especially against young adults. This essay presents a rereading of thinkers from that era alongside life history accounts of citizenship a century later. The citizens describe political communication not as a focus of intentional thought and action but as a fringe condition. Most events quickly fade from memory, leaving residual emotion and isolated imagery attached to a media routine. Politics becomes intentional only in sporadic flashes, characterized by clashing personalities. The media create an environment (dominated by fear and hope) at the margins, from which irresistible political affinities spring. The citizens also place political identity in that region, as membership in a community of sentiment reinforced through talk. They respond to political communication by asserting their autonomy, defiant and yet moved toward unity by stories of personal sacrifice. It appears that the ideal of information-seeking, rationally deliberating citizenship may itself contribute to citizen disengagement. Renewing citizenship requires a new ideal.