The participation project: how projects shape young people’s participation

Abstract

This chapter focusses on professionally facilitated efforts to promote young people’s participation through project-based activities located within young people’s everyday spaces. Inspired by theories of the emergence of a ‘project society’ (Jensen, 2012) and ‘projective regimes’ (Boltansky and Chiapello, 2005), the chapter discusses the implications of a regime driven by social mobility, fast and continuous innovation and managerial logics with the aim to promote societal activity through projects. Drawing on case studies of young people’s experiences while taking part in two project-based initiatives that aim to promote young people’s participation in school and in the psychiatric system respectively, the chapter demonstrates how this project regime greatly affects who how and to what aims young people are able to participate in change and decision-making.