Citizen participation of childhood and adolescence in local government: A systematic review

Abstract

In recent decades, the right of children and adolescents to participate has gained increasing prominence in democratic societies. This is partly due to developments in political, social, and cultural spheres, along with evolving concepts of childhood, adolescence, participation, and citizenship. To assess the current state of civic participation among children and adolescents in local government, a systematic review was conducted to examine peer-reviewed empirical studies. The review followed the PRISMA 2020 guidelines and used the CADIMA online tool to support the process. The Scopus and Web of Science databases were selected as sources, and a PO (Population and Outcomes) question framework was used to establish eligibility criteria, alongside a search string strategy. The Kappa index was employed to assess the internal consistency among reviewers. As a result, thirty-four articles were identified for bibliometric, methodological, and thematic analysis. The key findings show a growth in scientific publications since 2012, with several universities in Spain leading this research area through interuniversity collaborations, alongside the efforts of international and non-governmental organizations. The literature highlights the predominantly qualitative nature of this socio-educational research, focusing on seven key thematic categories identified in the selected studies. Opportunities for advancing this field include broadening the geographical scope through international studies and conducting longitudinal or evaluative research. Such research could expand knowledge in three areas: (1) the impacts on governance, public policies, and social and power relations between children, adolescents, and adults; (2) the inclusivity of children and adolescents in participatory processes and practices; and (3) a deeper exploration of the levels and contexts of children’s and adolescents’ participation in local government.