Young People, Participation and Solidarity. Results of a Qualitative Social Research

Today, more than ever, post-modern society is a social system dominated by processes of individualisation (Beck, 1986) and pervasive dis-aggregation (Giddens, 1991) as a result of the fragile social bonds (Bauman, 2003) between individuals, in particular young people. However, even if this scenario is dominated by uncertainty, several authors have emphasised the persistence of strong social bonds within small communities and small urban aggregations where the younger generations live (Howley, 2006; Johnson et al., 2005; Petrin et al., 2011). Based on these epistemological assumptions, was conducted a qualitative social research in a small Italian region, by conducting interviews introduced with the visual technique of photo-elicitation (Ciampi, 2007), which made possible to (re)trace the deep meanings expressed by the young people interviewed, concerning solidarity and bonding within local communities. The empirical results demonstrate the strong desire of younger to influence the communities they belong to, on the basis of intergenerational values which are themselves constructed on social love and mutual support. Therefore - as shown by the research - this seems to be one of the prevailing ways of encouraging participation and maintaining social ties, even despite the individualising drives and global crises typical of the contemporary world.