The decline in democratic participation and the rising complexity of the political field reveal the necessity for civil societies of focusing on promising youth with a strong political identity, who might take responsibility as active citizens in their communities or aim at political careers. Political identity develops over the life span, but has a critical phase in adolescence. Based on a theoretical framework of cognitive constructivism (Judith Torney-Purta), identity theory (James Youniss) and recent work in moral development (William Damon), the presentation will focus on exemplars of a strong political identity in undergraduate education. A secondary comparative analysis of recent international and national youth surveys, and longitudinal studies (NELS) in the United States and Germany show different predicators for adult political identity like political interest, civic knowledge, participation, values and self-concepts. Among the strongest predicators seem to be active participation, family background and the achieved level of education. In addition to these quantitative analyzes first results of qualitative research on young potential political leaders in students government and in political leadership programs in undergraduate university & college education will be presented, to give some insight in the biographical developmental logic of a political self-concept. The presented research is in an early stage and open for discussions on further research strategies and interpretation of the first results