Counter-protest: young people’s political engagement

Abstract

Based on The International Civic and Citizenship Education Study as well as a qualitative study of Danish young people born in the early 00s, the article explores and discusses their political engagement both empirically and theoretically. The two studies show that Danish youths possess an extensive political interest and knowledge of the democratic society, but at the same time, they articulate a prevalent reservation about protesting and participating in public political activities. The argument of the article is that their form of political engagement can analytically be reflected as a counter-protest. The term counter-protest captures an increasing political engagement, but an engagement that counteracts protest as a relevant form of political action and, furthermore, supports the conventional political system.

Towards a childist theory of democratic dannelse: An argument for the radical potential of more age-inclusive scholarly imagination

“…So how much 'action' -understood here as politics and claims for equality (Rancière) -is actually possible in our schools and in our society? When taking into consideration the lack of political self-confidence of Danish students (suggested by the result of the ICCS) (Bruun et al, 2018;Lieberkind, 2020Lieberkind, , 2021aLieberkind, , 2021b it seems to suggest that the running of the police order has been tightened, so to speak.…”