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Volume 19, Issue 3
  • ISSN: 1751-1917
  • E-ISSN: 1751-1925

Abstract

This article focuses on the challenges of being young, well-informed, democratic citizens and distrusting one’s ability to develop democratic self-confidence. This notion is framed by intersecting conditions based on norms of democratic citizenship, information practices and democratic values. Empirically, the article draws on interviews with 16–24-year-old Danes. Three dichotomies frame the article’s contribution: (1) The informants are interested and well-informed. However, lacking confidence in their abilities to gain and understand enough information for engaged citizenship affects their democratic self-confidence. (2) The informants demonstrate trust concerning democracy and democratic engagement. Still, the lack of democratic self-confidence affects their actual and perceived democratic participation. (3) The third dichotomy demonstrates that informants orientate globally through online spaces, but democratic deliberation preferably takes place in offline, private safe gardens. These contextual factors impact the direction of potential democratic innovation. If young citizens are to be innovative agents in a democratic society, new fora and formats for civic engagement must evolve.

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2024-12-09
2025-05-24
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/content/journals/10.1386/ctl_00165_1
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‘It’s better to just listen’: Three dichotomies regarding young citizens’ democratic self-confidence
Citizenship Teaching & Learning 19, 285 (2024); https://doi.org/10.1386/ctl_00165_1
/content/journals/10.1386/ctl_00165_1
/content/journals/10.1386/ctl_00165_1
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  • Article Type: Article
Keyword(s): democratic literacy; democratic participation; democratic reflexivity; democratic self-efficacy; informed citizenship; learning democratic citizenship; young people

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