Citizens or consumers? : youth identity in Malta

Abstract

This dissertation deals with the interplay between three main areas namely, youth identity, consumption and ecological citizenship. It examines young people's autonomy in their consumption and the considerations they take when buying. This study also deals with young people's decisions regarding transport, the actions they take to protect the environment, green consumerism and how all this relates to their identity. For this research a qualitative approach was used. The outcomes of this research show that there is tension but also interconnectedness between youth identity, consumption and ecological citizenship and that young people's lifestyles and identity revolve around various interests.