The Importance of Education, in Proliferating Democratic Participation and Representation in the European Union, by Engaging with Cyber-technology

This paper posits that educating more of European Union (EU) citizens, to raise awareness of and the ability to use cyber-technology, will increase democratic participation and representation in the EU (G20 Youth Forum, 2013, p330; Below, 2014, p95). This paper aims to provide a conceptual theoretical review of research methodological designs, investigating the role of education and cyber-technology in advancing democratisation in the EU (European Commission, Work Programme 2013, p10; Richter and Lucas, GIGA Research Plan 2013, p44). This paper seeks to fill an important knowledge gap identifying, epistemological, ontological and objectivity issues to consider in research, on this discussion topic (Kastens and Krumhansl, 2013, p2). Future research of the EU, will benefit by increased understanding of how research approach is affected by social and contextual interpretation (UNSDN, World Happiness Report, 2013, p16). The reality of one’s surroundings may differ from an EU citizen, a European Parliament politician, or an educational researcher’ perspective (European Commission, SOCIENTIZE, 2013, p13). This paper intends to provide critical theory and praxis, when researching the role of the education/cyber-technology nexus, in EU democratic participation and representation (Lucchi, 2013, EUI Working Paper, RSCAS 2013/47, p2; Global Trends 2030, 2012, p55).