Sustainable democracy. Potentials and pitfalls of young citizens’ informed and democratic citizenship

This objective of this paper is framed through a triangulation of three points: young citizens are the bearers of future sustainable Democracy (Mascheroni & Murri 2017; Stald 2024); informed citizenship (redefined) is vital for the foundation of sustainable Democracy (Bennett 2008; Mihailidis, 2014); sustainable Democracy depends on the collective ability to allow new forms of information and informed citizenship (Dauer et al., 2021; Stald, 2023), and to support young generations in developing democratic self-efficacy (Cortesei et al., 2020; Stald & Balle, 2024).
Sustainable Democracy usually describes development of new democracies by learning from established democracies (Przeworski, 1995) or a connection between sustainability goals and democratic ambition (Ward, 2008). In this paper, however, the term frames the challenge of sustaining Democracy while innovating the idea, foundation, and practices of Democracy in alignment with societal development, informed citizenship, and young people’s experiences and life-practices.
The paper draws on a study (2024) that investigates 16–18-year-old Danes’ experiences with being informed, democratic, and participating, digital citizens, including questions of trust and critical reflexivity. The study comprises interviews with 20 highschool students and written essays from 75 highschool students.
The informants demonstrate knowledge and opinions about international, national, and local topics. The pivotal point is the perception of politics and Democracy as something that takes place elsewhere, with/among someone who knows more and has more authority. But the informants eventually realize that politics and Democracy are also relatable to them in their everyday lives. This is a vital element in sustaining the foundations of Democracy.