12. Conclusion

Having been able to engage with the case studies that have provided in-depth insights into each of the countries, this chapter brings together the key insights that cut across those individual accounts. Common themes emerge, such as the importance of civic education and other socializing influences, concerns about the interplay between enfranchisement and other political decisions as well as an overall positive image of young people’s engagement. However, the chapter also identifies differences, in particular in relation to the process of how changes to the voting age come about and the extent of youth involvement beyond the vote. Crucially, the authors note that young people need to be considered heterogeneous and complex. Furthermore, they suggest future avenues for research into this topic and particularly stress the need for explicitly comparative research designs.