ABSTRACT
The chapter by Mason and Bolzan on cross-cultural studies in participation highlights that it is problematic to take the English term ‘participation’ as a starting point and then look for semantic equivalents in other languages, as specific connotations of the concept are presupposed. Instead, we would favour looking at the practices of young people of different ages without prejudice, and then trying to understand them in their respective social and cultural settings with their respective meanings. All investigations have to reflect self-critically the cultural specificities of every conception of participation, including that formulated in the UNCRC.
