5th ISA Forum of Sociology (6-11 July 2025)

In recent decades, youth activism has undergone significant transformations, diverging from traditional models of party militancy and long-term, disciplined commitment to causes. Events such as the 15-M movement, the global climate strikes, the mobilizations of young Latin American women advocating for abortion rights, and the rise of a new global far-right that increasingly mobilizes young people exemplify these changes. Today's young activists are driven not only by ideological commitment but also by personal experiences, leading to innovative forms of engagement and new logics of commitment.

These emerging forms of youth activism are characterized by their diversity and adaptability. Young women and sexual diversity activists often draw their motivation from firsthand experiences of discrimination, resulting in activist practices that integrate personal and collective dimensions of their lives. Conversely, young far-right activists are responding to advances in gender equality by articulating new countermovements, mobilizing new resources, and shaping new collective identities. This shift calls for a nuanced understanding of how young people today engage with socio-political issues and the implications of their activism for democratic participation and social change.

This session aims to explore the different constellations of youth activism present in contemporary liberal democracies, including militancy, alter-activism, far-right activism, intermittent activism, hybridization processes, transitions, and discontinuities in activist trajectories influenced by life circumstances, issues, and interests. The proposed session will focus on:

Characteristics of Contemporary Youth Activisms

Activism in Political Parties and Organizations

Gender Dynamics in Youth Activism

Digital and Networked Activism

Intermittent and Fluid Activism

Comparative Studies of Youth Activism