I am a PhD candidate at the University of Amsterdam, part of the doctoral network Interdisciplinary Perspectives on the Politics of Adolescence and Democracy, and a member of the Hot Politics Lab. My research adopts an interdisciplinary approach to studying the nature, development, and consequences of political (dis)interest. Specifically, I examine the extent to which, and for whom, political (dis)interest functions as a socio-political identity, beginning in early adolescence. I investigate what existing measures of political (dis)interest actually capture, when political (dis)interest emerges, and how it becomes a meaningful identity that shapes attitudes and behaviors. Through my work, I aim to identify barriers to inclusive civic engagement and to inform strategies to prevent disinterest and foster more equal political participation.
