Schools for democracy: A waste of time? Roles, mechanisms and perceptions of civic education in Czech and German contexts

Abstract

Schools for Democracy: A Waste of Time? Roles, Mechanisms and Perceptions of Civic Education in Czech and German Contexts. This article investigates the role of school-based civic education in the formation of political commitment, motivation and self-efficacy. The article is based on 60 qualitative interviews with university students from the Czech Republic and East and West Germany. Results indicate more favourable perceptions and evaluations of civic education by German students and offer practical recommendations for improving Czech education policy. Civic education has a positive impact particularly on children who were already interested in politics before beginning civic education classes. Apart from civic education, teachers, peers, school climate, organisational membership and family background are crucial factors in political engagement and commitment. Sociológia 2020, Vol. 52 (No. 3: 300-320).