Lecture May 15, 2004 Department of Sociology Komazawa University Tokyo, Japan Henk Vinken

1. Young consumer citizensComparing citizenship andconsumption of young generations across cultures Lecture May 15, 2004 Department of Sociology Komazawa University Tokyo, Japan Henk Vinken Tilburg University Tilburg, the Netherlands

2. Outline Erosion Civic decline, loss of citizenship ? Antenna Reading “signs of the times” (leisure and consumption) Reflexivity Competence in a co-figurative, generational perspective Distinction Counterbalancing mono-cultural concepts and analyses Discussion Addressing the production of new forms of citizenship

3. ErosionCivic decline, loss of citizenship ? • Growth ‘civic decline’ studies : pessimism • Loss of trust, of citizenship (of democracy) • Major weaknesses : • lost track of new forms of citizenship ; • lack (generation) sociological imagination ; • disregard cultural and structural diversities • Debate not innocent : if true young people less committed to old forms of citizenship, but more to new forms, moral concern is gratuitous and misleading !

4. AntennaReading “signs of the times” (leisure and consumption) • Mainstream civil society surveys conservative • Focus on same indicators to depict trends, e.g. : • voting • attending political meetings • becoming member of organizations • playing cards • visiting family • Decline or shift away from old forms of engagement ? • Society changes so do generational responses • Survey new forms citizenship of younger generations

5. Key domainLeisure and consumption • E.g. the Internet; demands andopportunities : • c: construction meaning, multiple cultures • s: weak tie, identities of shared interests • p: new agencies, repertoires and targets • Other consumer activities: e.g. shopping: p potency ! • Other sports & cultural activities: contest apathy • Leisure and consumption new outlets for expressions political voices, sense of belonging, social connectedness • Need a mix of social science perspectives, including media, technology, and consumptionwith focus on generations and changing life courses

6. ReflexivityCompetence in a co-figurative, generational perspective • The ‘state-of-the-art’ of civil society studies : • generational change most important • no clue whyyoung generations less engaged • idem positive studies: give no clue • Arguments from youth / generation sociology : • socialization more self-directed and on self • high awareness of distinct history & destiny • leading to: a new generation • Key concept: anticipatory reflexivity competence : • more reflxivity on future life course • more communication with intimate circles • esp. in own domain: leisure & consumption • leading to: the rise of reflexive generation

7. DistinctionCounterbalancing mono-cultural concepts and analyses • Dominance US-perspective on civic decline, but • Can US-malaise be generalized? • Assess impact structural/cultural diversity : • Especially cultural diversity: • underpins values (preferred state), • symbols, heroes in leisure & consumption, and • socialization practices • In need of cross-culturally plausible theory and good data on civic socialization in leisure & consumption domain to validate this theory

8. DiscussionAddressing the production of new forms of citizenship • Key civic playing field: leisure & consumption • Key civic competence: reflexivity with intimates • Needed: • interdisciplinary social science perspective • co-figurative, generational perspective • cross-cultural perspective • CCGS, Consortium for Culture and Generation Studies • Please check: http://www.uvt.nl/iric/ccgs