Civic Duty and the Socialization Role of Schools

My doctoral research focuses on the extent to which the school contributes to the development of a sense of civic duty to vote. Previous research has shown that civic duty constitutes a very important motivation for voting. Individuals who consider voting a duty are much more likely to participate in an election than individuals who believe otherwise. Little is known, however, about where civic duty comes from. In a paper, I offer evidence that individuals who are exposed to politics at school are more likely to perceive voting as a citizen duty than those who are not. I also show that civic duty is a very stable political attitude. During my research stay in Belgium, I will collaborate with Prof. Marc Hooghe on paper that examines the long-term impact of schools on civic duty. As such, my doctoral thesis contributes to the understanding of the origins of civic duty. It also contributes to politics, by pointing out how the school can instill a sense of civic duty to vote, and, thus, increase electoral participation. Given the low level of turnout that plagues most advanced democracies and its negative consequences, this is a particularly important contribution.

Faculty Supervisor:

Ruth Dassonneville;André Blais

Student:

Partner:

Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Education

University:

Université de Montréal

Program: