This book compares the current status of democracy in selected Eastern European countries. The focus is on young people’s attitudes towards and experiences of democracy, including active political engagement. In many of these countries, democracy has been hard-won and may well need to be defended again in the future. The contributors collectively reflect on young adults exercising their civic rights and how they can influence the political system at both formal and informal levels.
The chapters present different issues that arise in unique contexts but overall reflect the changing status of democracy and its effects on young people’s citizenship activity and education. The volume compares perspectives of three groups of Eastern European countries with different traditions and past histories of democracy and citizenship: Central European countries (Poland, Czech, Hungary); Baltic countries (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia); and post-soviet republics (Ukraine, Moldova). These countries differ in the status given to democracy, citizenship action traditions and education. At the same time, many countries have experienced recent turbulence related to democracy and different kinds of actions by young people. Comparing them leads to conclusions about omissions made in current citizenship education provision and what needs to be done for a better understanding of the needs of citizenship education in these difficult times.
This volume will be of interest to students and scholars in citizenship and civic education, sociology, political science and Eastern European Studies.
Author(s): Beata Krzywosz-Rynkiewicz, Kerry J. Kennedy
Series: Asia-Europe Education Dialogue
Publisher: Routledge
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 234
City: London
Cover
Half Title
Series Page
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Table of Contents
List of Figures
List of Tables
Contributors
Acknowledgements
Series Editor’s Note
Chapter 1: De-Europeanization, populism and illiberalism: Young people and democracy in Central and Eastern Europe
De-Europeanization – the retreat from democracy
Democracy in context
Central and Eastern European turbulence in democracy – between defending and retreating
Young people and democracy – do they still matter?
Does this imply that the future of democracy is bleak?
References
Section I: Democracy status and citizenship engagement: Research methods and results
Chapter 2: Measuring the status of democracy and citizenship activity: Survey development and trialing
Introduction
Democracy and citizenships – mutually pervading and inclusive phenomena
Democracy as a political system and a social contract
Citizenship as an activity that promotes social and individual welfare
Monitoring democracy and citizenship – research problems and questions
Research methods
Variables and indicators
Research instruments
Civic Activity
Summary
References
Chapter 3: Young people’s citizenship activity and perceptions of democracy status in Central-Eastern Europe: Sample selection and data analysis
Introduction
Research methods
Variables
Sample
Data collection and instruments
Perceptions of democracy status and citizenship activity of young people in CEE – research hypotheses
Data analysis
Young Europeans’ perceptions of democracy status and citizenship activity – research results
Perceptions of democracy status
Citizenship activity in CEE countries
Citizenship activity and perceptions of the status of democracy
Conclusions
References
Section II: Young people’s citizenship engagement in Central and Eastern Europe
Chapter 4: Do young people still need democracy in Poland?: Revisiting the question 30 years later
Introduction
Between two superpowers – historical, geographic and cultural context with a focus on citizenship
Current and political contexts – main challenges for citizenship
Current priorities in education for citizenship
Survey results
Method and sample
Young Poles’ perceptions of democracy
Young Poles’ citizenship activity
Young Poles’ civic engagement vs. perceptions of democracy
Challenges for future young people citizenship activity and education
Limitations
References
Chapter 5: After 30 transitional years of democracy: How do young people participate in society and evaluate democracy in Hungary?
Introduction
History and cultural context
Priorities and challenges of citizenship education
Young Hungarians citizenship activity related to citizenship education
Survey results
Sample and methods
Young Hungarians’ perceptions of democracy
Young Hungarians’ citizenship activity
Young Hungarians’ perception of democracy vs citizenship activity
Discussion
Limitations
References
Chapter 6: Citizenship activity and democracy perception among young Czechs whose parents ‘jingled keys’ during the ‘Velvet Revolution’
Introduction
The way to the democracy through the ‘Velvet Revolution’ – historical, geographic, and cultural context with a focus on citizenship
Current political situation – main challenges for citizenship
Citizenship education and civic education
Czech young adults’ citizenship activity and democracy perception – survey results
Participants
Method
Young Czechs’ perceptions of democracy
Citizenship activity
Citizenship activity and democracy perception
Discussion
Conclusion
Limitations
References
Chapter 7: Descriptive analysis of Estonian young adults’ evaluation of democracy and citizenship engagement
Introduction
Estonia – basic characteristics and demographic context
Current challenges and priorities for citizenship education
Survey results
Sample
Instruments
Young Estonians’ perceptions of democracy
Citizenship engagement
Challenges for young people and the future with focus on citizenship education
Limitations
References
Chapter 8: Young people in Latvia: Forgotten humanism in citizenship development
Introduction
History, geography and cultural context with a focus on citizenship
Demographic forecasts, aspects of impact
Current contexts – main challenges for citizenship in the country
Priorities in education for citizenship
Survey results
Sample and Method
Perceptions of democracy by young Latvians
Citizenship activity of young Latvians
Citizenship activity and perceptions of the status of democracy
Challenges for young people and the future with a focus on citizenship education
Conclusion
Limitations
Note
References
Chapter 9: The workdays and weekends of democracy in Lithuanian young adults’ calendar
Introduction
Facing the giant: a brief overview of recent history and the cultural context
Current contexts – main challenges for citizenship in Lithuania
Education for citizenship: status and priorities
Workdays and weekends in young adults’ democracy calendar: survey results
Sample and method
Young Lithuanians’ perceptions of democracy
Young Lithuanians’ citizenship activity
Citizenship activity and democracy perception
Discussion
Conclusions
Limitations
References
Chapter 10: Citizenship activity of young Ukrainians: Democracy and human rights challenges
Introduction
Geography, history and cultural context of Ukraine with focus on citizenship
Current challenges for citizenship activity and priorities for education
Survey results
Methods
Young Ukrainians’ perception of democracy
Young Ukrainians’ citizenship activity
Citizenship profiles of young Ukrainians
Perceptions of the status of democracy and citizenship activity
Challenges for young people citizenship activity and future citizenship education
Limitations
References
Section III: Framing the future
Chapter 11: Young people’s citizenship activity and education in the face of democracy’s retreat: What lessons have been learned from Central and Eastern Europe?
Introduction
The context
Young people’s participation in the public sphere
Developmental perspective
Perspective of postmodernist cultural change
Central-Eastern European perspective
Democracy, active citizenship and education
Lessons learned for citizenship education
Conclusion
References
Chapter 12: Democracy’s future in Central and Eastern Europe: Building coalitions, enhancing agency
Introduction
Europeanisation/De-Europeanisation – narratives and perspectives
Europeanisation – politics or economics?
De-Europeanisation in CEE countries – the creation of passive citizens
Conservative and self-centred citizenship – context or preference?
From homogeneity to heterogeneity – identifying intended citizenship action differently
A role for citizenship education – dreaming the future
Conclusion
References
Appendix A: Survey Instruments
Subject Index
Name Index
