Exploring Youth and Democracy in Border Areas: A Case Study Approach from Croatia

This paper investigates the relationship between young people and democracy, focusing on the experiences of growing up in four towns in the border area of Croatia (along the external border of the European Union), during a time of social and political polarization and declining trust in democratic processes, both in Croatia and across the EU. In recent decades, a perceived crisis of democracy in Europe has emerged, characterized by rising identity politics and the separation of liberalism from democracy, referred to as "illiberal democracy" or "undemocratic liberalism" (Mounk, 2018). While surveys indicate that Europeans still value democratic principles (Reynié, 2019; IDEA, 2021), researchers have concerns about the erosion of democratic structures. Studies highlight the need to foster democratic skills—collaboration, reflection, and dialogue—through education (Finley, 2022), and to promote democracy in everyday life. The paper explores how youth can be engaged in "everyday democracy," where the relevance of democratic processes to daily life is made visible, empowering young people to take action. The paper is based on qualitative methodology, focusing on four case studies. The qualitative data was collected in four border towns in Croatia in 2024., involving five focus groups with a total of 35 high school students and 20 interviews with individuals who work with young people (educational actors in both formal and non-formal youth education). Thematic analysis of the qualitative data from the focus groups and interviews was carried out, along with mini-ethnographic analyses based on the contextual data collected, which are characteristic of the selected geographical areas and their surroundings. Preliminary findings suggest that while young people are generally satisfied with their lives, they face unique challenges related to living in geographically remote areas. The study aims to enhance democratic engagement among youth by addressing these challenges and fostering trust in democratic processes.