The study examined current social issues that adolescents and young adults from majority and minority groups consider to be pressing issues in society, such as the environment, racism, and unemployment. Fourteen focus groups were conducted with majority (Czech) and minority (Roma and Ukrainian) participants (15-26 years of age). The issues were discussed with an emphasis on where the participants believed the responsibility lay for finding a solution. Responses could be classified into three categories: ascribing responsibility only to the self, only to others (e.g., to the government), or to both. We used the data from the follow-up survey study to test whether internal ascription of responsibility would align with young people's attitudes toward civic participation. The results suggest that for majority (Czech) and Ukrainian youth, willingness to participate is predicted not only by social norms that encourage civic engagement and collective efficacy beliefs but also by one's ascription of responsibility to the self. We discuss various explanations for why this finding did not hold true for Roma respondents.

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The objective of the present study was to explore in depth how adolescents understand democracy and how they apply their ideas of democracy to attitudes toward immigrants. In order to research these topics, we conducted five focus groups at middle and high schools (9th and 10th grade) with a total number of 32 respondents. Utilizing thematic analysis, we identified the main themes related to definitions of democracy, such as emphasis on individual freedom, and democracy as rule by the people. Young people also discussed possible conflicts between democratic principles (e.g., majority rule vs. minority voice). Inclination toward majoritarian model was mostly present in adolescents' attitudes toward immigrants, which were characterized mostly by endorsement of assimilation. We discuss these results in the light of the conflicting principles upon which democracy is built, such as equality versus freedom or majority rule versus minority rights.

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Dans ce chapitre, nous nous interrogeons sur les motivations de la participation à l’action collective parmi les membres de groupes minoritaires, en particulier les jeunes Roms et les jeunes Ukrainiens au sein de la République tchèque. Nous partons de la littérature, dans laquelle les désavantages des groupes sont vus comme une source possible de cette motivation. Dans notre étude, les jeunes des minorités identifient la discrimination comme étant le problème numéro un qu’ils rencontrent, associé à des sentiments de colère et de frustration. Il apparaît, sur base des réponses, que ces sentiments négatifs seuls n’ont cependant pas le potentiel pour rapprocher les gens vers l’action collective. C’est plutôt la conviction que le groupe en tant que tel peut améliorer les choses (conviction d’efficacité de l’action collective) qui détermine la participation. Néanmoins, lorsque les sentiments négatifs au sujet de la discrimination accompagnent un sens fort de l’efficacité collective, la participation a encore plus de chance de se produire. Ces résultats soutiennent l’idée que les émotions de colère et de frustration peuvent servir de déclencheurs et conduire les personnes vers l’action collective.