Abstract
The views young people have towards democratic values shape their views in later life. However, the values that are fundamental to democracy, such as majority rule and minority rights, are often competing. This study aims to provide insight into the ways adolescents view democratic issues in which democratic values are competing. To do so, three democratic issues with varying conditions were designed, and discussed during interviews with students in vocational education. The results show that most adolescents consider both democratic values that underlie an issue. Furthermore, as the conditions in which the issues take place were altered during the interviews, adolescents explicitly evaluated different perspectives and starting shifting between both values. The findings of this study show that adolescents’ views on democratic issues are layered, and include considering multiple democratic values and taking account of the conditions in which these are situated.
Highlights
Support for democratic values and rejecting antidemocratic ideas among citizens is considered essential for the consolidation of democracy (Almond and Verba, 1963; Dalton and Welzel, 2014; Sigel, 1965)
This study aims to answer the following research question: What are the views of adolescents in tertiary vocational education on democratic issues consisting of competing democratic values in a variety of conditions?
The research question was: What are the views of adolescents in tertiary vocational education on democratic issues consisting of competing democratic values in a variety of conditions? To answer this question, three democratic issues with varying conditions were designed, and discussed during interviews with adolescents in vocational education
Summary
Support for democratic values and rejecting antidemocratic ideas among citizens is considered essential for the consolidation of democracy (Almond and Verba, 1963; Dalton and Welzel, 2014; Sigel, 1965). Freedom of speech and non-discrimination are two values that can be competing, as freedom of speech might include opinions that are discriminating toward particular groups (Barendt, 2005) For this reason, democratic issues—situations that encompass competing democratic values as well as perspectives on feasible solutions—are inherent to democracy (Flanagan and Christens, 2011; Thomassen, 1995; Van der Meer, 2017). Democratic issues—situations that encompass competing democratic values as well as perspectives on feasible solutions—are inherent to democracy (Flanagan and Christens, 2011; Thomassen, 1995; Van der Meer, 2017) In this regard, it is important that adolescents support democratic values, and develop views on democratic issues that include considering multiple democratic values (Banks, 2004; Mouffe, 2009; Pennock, 1979; Protho and Grigg, 1960; Thomassen, 2007). The development of such views is relevant for individuals, because it enables them to participate as young citizens in a democratic society (Dalton and Welzel, 2014; Sigel, 1965) and for society, because it contributes to the maintenance and strengthening of democracy (Sapiro, 2004; Veugelers, 2019)
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