Youth in Challenging Contexts: Democracy, Education, and the Role of Technology in 10 European Countries

• In Event: Democracy Health of Educational Institutions and Perspectives of Youth on Democracy and Education in Digital Societies – Insights from 10 EU Countries

Proposal

This paper examines the perspectives of young people from challenging contexts in 10 European countries (Austria, Croatia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain) on democracy in general, their views on democracy in educational context, and their sense of agency in a digital society. The starting point of the study is the growing alienation of youth from democratic institutions and declining political participation. Given these trends, understanding the views of young people who face additional obstacles in being heard and achieving representation in 21st-century Europe is crucial.
The paper explores key questions related to democracy, focusing on young people's perceptions of democracy, their opportunities to voice concerns within educational surrounding, and whether they feel capable of influencing important issues. This approach emphasizes young people's views on the current democratic order, their agency in educational context, and the role of technology in these processes.
Data were collected through the Horizon project "Critical ChangeLab - Democracy meets arts: Critical change labs for building democratic cultures through creative and narrative practices." The qualitative research aimed to deepen understanding of how young people across Europe perceive their lives, contexts, and democracy at different levels, including educational context. Case studies of youth in challenging contexts provided insights into their perspectives, obstacles, and opportunities for engaging in democratic activities on different levels. A standardized methodology enabled comparative analysis across different contexts.
In each country, in-depth case studies were conducted, including focus groups with young, semi-structured interviews with individuals working with these youth, and a mini ethnography. This ethnography involved analyzing secondary sources, reflective journals, and visual data collected by researchers.
The selected cases reflect the diversity of young people’s identities and life circumstances, capturing significant variation across geographic locations, from rural areas and small towns to national capitals and major European cities like Paris, Berlin, and Barcelona. The study also addressed the experiences of youth facing various hardships, such as female teenage STEM students, youth at theEU’s borders, those in substitute care, and LGBTQ youth.
Focus group participants, aged 11 to 19, were selected in cooperation with organizations familiar with the youth and their challenges. Additionally, project partners identified individuals from local government, educational institutions, NGOs, and youth associations for interviews, providing further insights into young people's democratic opportunities. A total of 80 young people and 49 individuals working with youth participated in this research segment.
The mini ethnography included visual data depicting scenes from target communities and locations where focus groups and interviews were conducted, research journals and analysis of secondary sources.
This comparative study offers valuable insights into the diverse perspectives of young people in challenging contexts and how variations in context, social structures, civic education, and the digital society shape their experiences and views on democracy today.

Authors

• Nikola Baketa, Institute for Social Research in Zagreb (ISRZ)

• Iva Odak