School as a Bridge to Politics: How Does Civic Education Shape Individual Path to Activism in the Czech and German Context?

This paper investigates the role of school-based civic education in the formation of political commitment, motivation and the notion of self-efficacy. The analysis focuses primarily on the perception of civic education by young adults who are currently either active or inactive in political or civic organizations. The aim of the paper is to answer the question: ‘What is the perceived quality, role and impact of civic education at Czech and German schools on students’ political engagement?’ The analysis offers a critical perspective on civic education policies in the Czech Republic and Germany, which is highly topical at a time of a decreasing rate of conventional participation among young people. Attention is also paid to the role of teachers, peers and school climate in secondary political socialization as well as to the question of who benefits the most from civic education programmes. The paper draws upon a unique dataset of 60 in-depth qualitative interviews with university students aged between 18 and 30. Interviews were conducted in universities in the former East Germany (Jena), former West Germany (Mannheim, Cologne) and the Czech Republic (Prague, Ostrava, Olomouc). The method of applied thematic analysis, through a qualitative software, Atlas.ti, was used. Analysis was based on an interpretative retrospective approach which enabled a flexible research design, emphasised life experience and gave space to individual explanations and understanding. Based on research findings, paper offers practical recommendations for improving civic education policy.