Critical reflection in youth: a look at the interrelation between political subjectivity, political socialization and the life Project

Reflexión crítica en la juventud: una mirada a la interrelación entre la subjetividad política, la socialización política y el proyecto de vida

This article presents the results of a research study that aimed to understand the relationship between political subjectivity, political socialization, and the construction of individual and collective life projects among four young Colombians from the city of Bogotá, aged 20 to 27, who generate impact within their communities (2023). The qualitative study employed the hermeneutic-political ontological method, involving the participation of young individuals through the snowball sampling strategy and in-depth interviews. The findings highlight that critical reflection emerges as a key process through which young people recognize the precarities in their environments, which, in turn, drives their ability to plan life projects oriented toward collective benefit. From this perspective, young people understand politics in two dimensions—established and instituting—and it is through the tension between these dimensions that they construct their political subjectivity. Furthermore, their participation in various political socialization settings enables them to define and consolidate their beliefs and perspectives. Regarding life project planning, the young participants emphasize that uncertainty, combined with clarity about their objectives, plays a significant role in generating a positive impact on their communities. Finally, the interaction between political socialization settings and reflective processes is central to understanding how young people construct their life projects and develop their political subjectivity.