Participating in Citizenship

Less than a third of Americans aged 18-24 voted in the last presidential election, historically the lowest turnout for that particular demographic. Why is this generation so apathetic? Why do they think their voices don't count? And, as Participating in Citizenship, hosted/narrated by Douglas Brinkley, asks: if they feel so "abandoned by the democratic process, [how will] they reinvent democracy?" This confrontational first volume in the three-part American Democracy in Action series examines these questions, offering a stirring history of the American democratic impulse that is designed to make young people question their indifference and motivate them to action, while underscoring the fact that democracy is both representative and participatory. In addition, the program points out the importance of working with civic associations that address social issues and promoting collective well-being--with hands-on local community service seen as a sort of stepping stone to involvement in national concerns. Boasting high production values and solid content, overall, the focus here is more on the problems contributing to young voter lack of interest, then potential solutions, but those may be offered in the other two volumes: Fighting For Change in U.S. History and Active Citizenship: Making a Difference. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (E. Gieschen)