The Political Socialization of College Students: Student Government, Diversity, and Political Power
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Abstract
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Abstract
For over a century, institutions of higher education have had student government organizations on their campuses. We show these organizations serve as important socializing agents, providing opportunities to practice politics and exercise political voice. In this article, we present both quantitative and qualitative research conducted over the past two years on the top 50 universities and top 50 liberal arts colleges. We investigate the role of these organizations on their campuses, the level of their diversity in leadership, and the correlates of that diversity (type of school, geography, politics of the state legislature, etc.). Using surveys and in-depth interviews of student leaders, we find that student governments are influenced in many ways by the current politics of the day especially surrounding issues of diversity and inclusion, and that leadership opportunities socialize students to have the skills for and interest in future political officeholding.
Keywords: political socialization, college student government, student leadership
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Bibliography: Smith, Elizabeth S./Roof, Sabrina S./West, Katherine/Hyman, Nicole: The Political Socialization of College Students: Student Government, Diversity, and Political Power, PCS – Politics, Culture and Socialization, 2021-2022, pp. 9-33. https://doi.org/10.3224/pcs.v12-13i1-2.02