The new paper, “Navigating Normativity: How German Youth Discuss Activism in a Global Context,” authored by Miri Yemini and Ullrich Bauer, has been published online-first in Youth & Society and examines the perceptions of activism among German secondary school students. This comprehensive study analyzed discussions from 25 focus groups involving 141 students aged 14-20 from various educational institutions across Germany, providing unprecedented insights into how European youth conceptualize their role in global citizenship and activism.

The research uncovers three critical themes that challenge conventional assumptions about youth engagement in global citizenship education. The study reveals that German students often adopt a normative perspective that distinguishes them from peers in less privileged countries, viewing activism through a narrow lens of global citizenship that emphasizes differences rather than shared global identity. Additionally, the findings show an uncritical acceptance of traditional activism frameworks, both in terms of acceptable actions and worthy causes. Using Pierre Bourdieu’s theoretical concepts of habitus and field, the authors provide valuable insights that can inform the future development and implementation of Global Citizenship Education programs, highlighting the need for more critical and inclusive approaches to fostering genuine global solidarity among young people.