The Reserved Young Citizens of the Nordic Countries

Abstract

Both in citizenship education research and public debate, interest in understanding the role and significance of young people in the current state and future of democracy is ongoing. From one point of view, young people are seen as alienated and passive, thus raising concern. From another point of view, young people are seen as drivers for change, thus raising hope. This chapter intends to explore such contradicting roles of the young Nordic citizens. The basic questions are as follows: (1) What are the characteristics of the Nordic youth relative to the youth in other regions? (2) What are their main perceptions and attitudes towards the active and passive dimensions of citizenship? (3) Have these characteristics and perceptions changed over time? Empirically, the analyses and interpretations are based on IEA’s International Civic and Citizenship Education Study (ICCS) 2009 and ICCS 2016 data applied to demonstrate the regional trends, similarities, and differences among youth. In general, the Nordic youth are relatively passive with regard to political participation. At the same time, however, they are knowledgeable and democratically engaged. We propose a new analytical concept to understand this “double-sided” civic engagement of the Nordic youth as the reserved young Nordic citizens.

The Greta Thunberg Effect: A Study of Norwegian Youth’s Reflexivity on Climate Change

“…In recent Norwegian elections, parties with environmental platforms have had strong support among young voters (Kleven, 2020). European youth are often referred to as ‘disengaged’; however, Lieberkind and Brun (2021) have termed Nordic youth ‘reserved citizens’ because they are passive about political participation but knowledgeable and democratically engaged in informal settings. Many young Norwegians believe in and reflexively understand the consequences of the climate crisis.…”

Exploring the Role of Digital and Socio-civic Skills for Promoting Youth Participation and Digital Citizenship

“…Understanding the role and importance of young people in conceptualizations of democracy is ongoing, both in citizenship education research and public debate (Lieberkind & Bruun, 2021). There are key themes in digital citizenship theorizations that are generally similar in notion (Chosn-Chelala, 2019).…”

“…In fact, it also points out that young people are involved in different political activities, favouring alternative forms of participation. In other words, researchers are currently witnessing young people around the world engaging in political issues and giving new life to contemporary political agendas (Lieberkind & Bruun, 2021) in their own way and using a variety of mediums and gain agency, autonomy, inclusion in decision-making and assuming certain responsibilities that foster the empowerment of a young person to participate actively (Shier, 2001) as well as taking into account other factors, such as the environment and context, motivation and certain conditioners of participation, such as how young people are perceived as political actors (Cahill & Dadvand, 2018). In some cases, they are visible through multi-activism in different types of organisations; others in via online forums and even those who do not engage with their community (Checkoway, 2011).…”