From support to participation: Reviewing the role of community in shaping political engagement and efficacy in Cambodia’s youth

This paper analyses Cambodian youth’s political efficacy and participation challenging the political naïveté and scepticism toward political institutions among the youth with the community supports as major predictors of youth political behaviour, explaining how these types of support influence participation in elections and political efficacy. The greatest support in community networks, and informal social control results in trust, social control, and community networks. This study explains how these types of support influence participation in elections, political activism, and discussions. The feeling of belongingness positively influences the support of family, peers, community leaders, and the youth influence of political efficacy. This outlines family’s dominant influence in a community and sociopolitical context in Cambodia as significant. It identifies gaps in literature on political participation among the youth concerning gender, education, and socioeconomic status. It also calls on researchers of emerging democracies and political youth engagement to conduct community-based interventions.