Civic Life in the Information Age: Policy, Technology and Generational Change

In today's rapidly changing world, the skills and sensibilities of "citizenship" are evolving along with technological and economic advance. Communication technologies enable communication across the globe at the speed of light. This reality means that ideas of democracy, of theocracy, of compassion, of hate -- all can find instant audiences. This profound freedom and speed of information makes the demands of contemporary citizenship extraordinarily high and raises the stakes for the schools and institutions that prepare young people to navigate this new complexity. What it means to be a good democratic citizen in America and in the world today is very much in flux -- in some circles, there is a sense that American civic life is in decline. Where much talk of civic participation and social capital focuses on younger generation's rejection of traditional institutions, this work examines new means of participation and association, fostered by technology and animated by a younger generation just now stepping into positions of leadership. As Millennials rise and Baby Boomers retire, the frequently maligned generation in between -- Generation X -- is beginning to leave its unique stamp on our social, political and economic spheres. That stamp, this work argues, has implications for civic life and social policy over the coming decades, especially such critical areas as public education. [author]