Abstract
'I believe that democracy is connected to citizenship'. Young Danes and informed, democratic citizenship
The presentation’s objective is to present results from an ongoing study investigating intersecting conditions for young citizens' experiences with and perceptions of informed democratic citizenship. The presentation triangulates three points: Young citizens are the bearers of future sustainable democracy (Cammaerts et al., 2014; Mascheroni & Murri, 2017; Stald, 2023); Informed citizenship redefined is vital for the foundation of sustainable democracy (Bennett, 2008; Ohme et al., 2022); Sustainable democracy depends on the collective ability to allowing new forms of information and informed citizenship, and supporting young generations' development of democratic self-efficacy (Coleman & Blumler, 2009; Cortesi et al., 2020; Stald & Balle, 2024).
The study focuses on a broadly defined majority of young Danes. Gray (2017) labels the group 'the silent citizens', but they are also well-informed, democratically engaged, and critically reflective (DUF, 2023; Stald, 2023). The presentation draws on two sets of qualitative interviews: 16 interviews (April 2021) with 16–24-year-old Danes and 20 interviews (April 2024) with 16-18-year-old Danes. The findings are supported by publicly available survey data about young Danish citizens' (social) media use for information and participation (DUF, 2023; Schrøder et al., 2023; Statistics Denmark, 2023).
Most informants express that political topics and democratic engagement are sometimes relatable for them, even if they do not want to express their opinions publicly, online or offline, and the notion of the importance of civic information and participation is high:
It is about all of us being part of something in common. That we all must influence our and our friends' everyday lives. It is not just about you – and yet it is, very much. Well, and some people manage to debate and stand up and say, 'I represent this point of view'! (Female, 19)
The presentation’s objective is to present results from an ongoing study investigating intersecting conditions for young citizens' experiences with and perceptions of informed democratic citizenship. The presentation triangulates three points: Young citizens are the bearers of future sustainable democracy (Cammaerts et al., 2014; Mascheroni & Murri, 2017; Stald, 2023); Informed citizenship redefined is vital for the foundation of sustainable democracy (Bennett, 2008; Ohme et al., 2022); Sustainable democracy depends on the collective ability to allowing new forms of information and informed citizenship, and supporting young generations' development of democratic self-efficacy (Coleman & Blumler, 2009; Cortesi et al., 2020; Stald & Balle, 2024).
The study focuses on a broadly defined majority of young Danes. Gray (2017) labels the group 'the silent citizens', but they are also well-informed, democratically engaged, and critically reflective (DUF, 2023; Stald, 2023). The presentation draws on two sets of qualitative interviews: 16 interviews (April 2021) with 16–24-year-old Danes and 20 interviews (April 2024) with 16-18-year-old Danes. The findings are supported by publicly available survey data about young Danish citizens' (social) media use for information and participation (DUF, 2023; Schrøder et al., 2023; Statistics Denmark, 2023).
Most informants express that political topics and democratic engagement are sometimes relatable for them, even if they do not want to express their opinions publicly, online or offline, and the notion of the importance of civic information and participation is high:
It is about all of us being part of something in common. That we all must influence our and our friends' everyday lives. It is not just about you – and yet it is, very much. Well, and some people manage to debate and stand up and say, 'I represent this point of view'! (Female, 19)
| Originalsprog | Engelsk |
|---|---|
| Publikationsdato | 22 maj 2025 |
| Status | Udgivet - 22 maj 2025 |
| Begivenhed | Democracy and Youth in the Digital Age. Evolving Technologies and Political Participation. - University of Luxembourg , Luxembourg, Luxemborg Varighed: 19 mar. 2025 → 21 mar. 2025 Konferencens nummer: 1 file:///C:/Users/stald/OneDrive%20-%20ITU/Desktop/Documents/Gitte%20arbejde%202014/Opl%C3%A6g%20og%20foredrag/Democracy%20and%20youth%20in%20the%20digital%20age%20Luxembourg%20190325/Democracy%20and%20Youth%20190325%20Program.pdf |
Konference
| Konference | Democracy and Youth in the Digital Age. Evolving Technologies and Political Participation. |
|---|---|
| Nummer | 1 |
| Lokation | University of Luxembourg |
| Land/Område | Luxemborg |
| By | Luxembourg |
| Periode | 19/03/2025 → 21/03/2025 |
| Internetadresse |