In person icon Exploring Civic Learning Spaces – Young People's Citizenship Futures in Europe and Beyond

Abstract

This panel seeks to explore the junctures of civic education, youth engagement, and the evolving meanings of citizenship within and beyond Europe. We aim to examine how civic learning spaces—both formal (e.g., schools and institutions) and informal (e.g., community groups, digital platforms)—transform future citizens and how they are transformed by young people. The panel will address key questions: How are young people navigating and reshaping democratic spaces and citizenship concepts in response to contemporary issues, such as social inequality, digital activism, and environmental challenges? What role do civic education programs play in empowering youth to protest and to critique? We also consider comparative perspectives, analyzing how global, national and regional contexts impact young people's civic engagement and their ability to envision and advocate for inclusive citizenship futures. Bringing together plural research positions and empirical insights from citizenship and civic education research, this panel welcomes papers that examine the mechanisms at work when active citizenship(s) are addressed among youth. By highlighting youth perspectives, we hope to underscore the importance of adapting civic learning spaces to better support young people as active agents of change. Ultimately, this panel seeks to contribute to a broader discussion on the role of young people addressing their citizenship futures in societies under stress.

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