Victoria Edwards will conduct research in Japan on the changing landscape of youth political participation

Recently, Elizabethtown College senior Victoria Edwards was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship. Victoria, an International Business and Japanese double-major with a specialization in Political Science, plans to conduct research in Japan and proposed affiliation at Sophia University and Waseda University.

“I am honored to have come this far, but I am even more eager to begin my work abroad and complete a project worthy of the bestowed honors,” said Edwards who also studied abroad in Japan in 2017. “This award will enable me to return to Japan and devote myself to a project that capitalizes on my passions, strengths, and aspirations”

 

Edwards, of Bear, Delaware, will focus her research project on examining polarization among contemporary Japanese youth activists and non-participants, and the changing landscape of youth political participation. She also will study comparative developments in former generations’ political behavior over time.

“Being able to engage with individuals and events firsthand, rather than from behind a computer screen, imparts a deep sense of importance to my work,” Edwards said. “I look forward to listening to the stories of those I meet and understanding their role with respect to larger social trends.”

Edwards plans to digitally archive her findings, providing descriptions in English and Japanese.

The Fulbright Program is devoted to increasing mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. Fulbright is the world’s largest and most diverse international educational exchange program.