How do young people in the Western Balkans form their political identities as political instability increases? Do they find themselves struggling between silence and resistance, or do they believe they have the power to influence change? Are they agents of change or passive and pragmatic parts of society?
Against the backdrop of the ongoing students protests in Serbia and debates about the fate of the political regime of Aleksandar Vučić, of Europe's silence, and the rise of anti-democratic trends, we will look into the latest Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) research on youth perceptions in Southeast Europe and use it to provide a broader picture of the region. Based on these insights, we will focus on the question how young people can shape the future and reinvigorate the democratic spirit of the region.
The discussion will bring together experts and activists, with an emphasis on highlighting young voices to reflect on the challenges and opportunities facing youth today. The event is part of our initiative „Young Generations for the New Balkans 2030: Towards Alternative Horizons“.
Welcome
Hannes Swoboda
Former MEP, President of the International Institute for Peace
Saša Vasić
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Southeast Europe
Reflection on FES Youth Study
Ema Džejna Smolo Zukan
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Southeast Europe
Panel
Vedran Džihić
Senior Researcher, Austrian Institute for International Politics
Boris Kojčinović
Student, University of Novi Sad, Serbia
Larissa Lojić
European Youth Delegate, Austrian BiH Youth Initiative
Luka Čekić
Project Assistant, World Institute for Nuclear Security
Moderation
Stephanie Fenkart
Director, International Institute for Peace
Die Diskussion in englischer Sprache findet in Kooperation mit folgenden Partner:innen statt: International Institute for Peace (IIP), Austrian Institute for International Affairs (oiip), and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES).
Projektleitung
Dr. Gerhard Marchl
Kontakt
