THE DETERMINANTS OF POLITICAL PARTICIPATION OF RURAL YOUTH A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE YOUTH IN MENOUFIYA GOVERNORATE

This study aimed at identifying the political knowledge and some aspects of political participation of the rural youth, and determining variables that are proposed to relate and explaine the variance of degree of political knowledge and political participation of the rural youth. Data were collected from a random sample of 1100 youth (550 males, and 550 females) in eleven villages at Menoufiya governorate through personal interviews with respondents. The results of the study indicated a low political knowledge degree and political participation degree for the rural youth. The results of statistical tests revealed that there were significant differences between the two groups of respondents (males and females) regarding political knowledge degree and political participation degree. The findings of step-wise multiple regression analysis indicated that: 1-   The most important variables affecting degree of male’s political knowledge were education level, participation in developmental projects, cultural cosmoplitness, participation in public election’s conferences, participation in social organizations and participation in political parties. These six significant independent variables explained only 37.9% of the total variance of the male’s political knowledge degree.   2-   The most important variables affecting degree of female’s political knowledge were education level, cultural cosmoplitness, participation in social organizations, socialization and politicalization, geographical cosmoplitness, monthly incom and age. These seven significant independent variables explained only 33.3% of the total variance of the female’s political knowledge degree. 3-   The most important variables affecting degree of male’s political participation were political knowledge degree, participation in social organizations, participation in developmental projects and cultural cosmoplitness. These four significant independent variables explained only 24% of the total variance of the male’s political participation degree. 4-   The most important variables affecting degree of female’s political participation were political knowledge degree, participation in social organizations, age, geographical cosmoplitness, family education level and cultural cosmoplitness. These six significant independent variables explained only 15.6% of the total variance of the female’s political participation degree.  The study were concluded with a discussion of its findings and a number of suggestions for the inhancement of rural youth’ participation in political activities were introduced.