The relationship between the family and civil society has always been complex, with the family often regarded as separate from, or even oppositional to, civil society. Taking a fresh empirical approach, Muddiman, Power and Taylor reveal how such separation underestimates the important role the family plays in civil society. Considering the impact of family events, dinner table debates, intergenerational transmission of virtues and the role of the mother, this enlightening book draws on survey data from 1000 young people, a sample of their parents and grandparents, and extended family interviews, to uncover how civil engagement, activism and political participation are inherited and fostered within the home.This enlightening book challenges conventional distinctions between the family and civil society. Drawing on survey and interview data from young people, their parents and grandparents, and exploring family events, encounters and practices, the authors establish the fundamental role of the family in young people’s civil engagement, activism and political participation.