Navigating Normativity: How German Youth Redefine Activism in a Global Context

• In Event: Highlighted Session: Investigating the empowerment of youth activists: transforming education for social change

Proposal

In the past decade, youth activism has gained visibility in public discourse around Europe and was integrated into the UN's Sustainable Development Goals under the Global Citizenship Education framework. While literature in the field has largely focused on the characteristics, topics, frequency, and extent of youth activism, as well as various critiques—including how it is facilitated by schools—we still have limited understanding of young people's own perceptions of activism and its manifestations. This research investigates the perceptions of activism among students in Germany, employing thematic analysis to analyse data from 25 discussion groups, each composed of 4-8 students aged 14-20 from various educational institutions across Germany (n = 141). The analysis identifies three predominant themes: (1) A normative perception of activism whereby students distinguish themselves from "the other," or those residing in countries deprived of adequate education and the necessary conditions for activism. (2) A limited view of global citizenship, with students primarily recognizing stark differences between themselves and populations outside the Global North, rather than embracing a shared global identity. (3) An uncritical acceptance of conventional conceptions of activism, in terms of both the actions undertaken and the types of causes deemed worthy of activism. In the conclusion, reflecting on the data, we propose directions for future research and practical steps to facilitate activism education, with the goal of empowering students as proactive agents of societal change.

Author

• Ullrich Bauer, Bielefeld University