Abstract
The growth of populism and nationalism globally suggests a turning point in democratic development and raises a question about the crisis of democracy and even whether democracy as we have known might be coming to an end. Some reports (Democracy Index, 2019; V-Dem, 2018, 2019) reveal significant decreases in democracy indicators in Europe, traditionally seen as the cradle of democracy. It is surprising that the biggest fall in democracy is noted in countries that initiated the pro-democratic movement in the 1980's resulting in the collapse of the Berlin wall. Young adults who have now formal civic rights, can influence political systems at both formal and informal levels. Their last years of citizenship education in the school as well and social life experiences can influence them to build up democracy or give it up. This raises the questions where is democracy headed and whether young will people defend it? Further, what turn in citizenship education is required to support democracy in the future?
In the seminar we share research results and reflections on young people's perception of the status of democracy and their citizenship activity from perspectives of three groups of Eastern European countries: Central European countries (Poland, Czech, Hungary) that are post-soviet satellites, currently EU members, Baltic countries (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) that are post-soviet republics, currently EU members and post-soviet republics (Ukraine, Moldova) that were under Russia influence but have now embraced and now embraced independence. These countries differ in the status given to democracy, citizenship action traditions and education. At the same time, they have experienced recent turbulence related to democracy and different kinds of young people's action. Comparing them can lead to new understandings about omissions in current citizenship educatieducation and learning from that different national experiences what is needed for the future of such education.