According to a representative survey by the IU International University on the topic of “Democracy and Education”, almost half of those surveyed are generally very or fairly satisfied with democracy in Germany. Most respondents see the education system as primarily responsible for conveying democratic values.
13.08.2024 Nationwide press release IU International University
A current study on the topic of “Democracy and Education” by the IU International University (IU), the largest university in Germany with over 130,000 students, shows that almost half (47.9 percent) of those surveyed are very or rather satisfied with democracy in Germany. Among Generation Z, the figure is even more than half: 54.6 percent of 16- to 25-year-olds express their satisfaction. In contrast, 48.5 percent of all respondents are rather or very dissatisfied.
Prof.ⁱⁿ Dr.ⁱⁿ Stefanie Kessler, Professor of Social Work at the IU International University and expert in democracy learning and political education, explains: “Young people are more satisfied with democracy if they experience democracy more often in educational contexts and thus their own effectiveness, even if it is not directly about major politics. These direct participation opportunities have often been lacking among the older generation.”
59.0 percent of respondents see the education system as primarily responsible for conveying democratic values. 92.5 percent of all respondents agree: maintaining democracy in Germany is very important or fairly important. This view is shared by all generations, from Generation Z to the baby boomers.
“How exactly the education system can have an influence is a key question. It is not enough to simply offer subjects such as politics, social studies or civics. Educational institutions themselves must be designed as experience spaces that support, enable and make democratic experiences and self-efficacy tangible,” says Kessler.
The majority of respondents (75.1 percent) say they vote regularly, followed by 60.3 percent who keep themselves informed about political issues. 51.6 percent discuss political issues with others, while 43.0 percent sign petitions. Less common activities include discussing on social media (19.0 percent), participating in demonstrations (16.1 percent) and contacting political representatives (11.0 percent). 10.1 percent say they are generally not involved in politics. The results show that voting is the most common form of political participation, while the opportunity to participate in other political activities such as demonstrations is used less.
Prof.ⁱⁿ Dr.ⁱⁿ Alexandra Wuttig, Chancellor of the IU International University and Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, says: “It is important to anchor the value and appreciation of democracy more firmly in society. This can be done through education, open discussions and active participation in democracy. It is crucial to make everyone aware of the value and importance of democracy and to encourage them to get involved.”
Decreasing trust in politics is the most frequently cited answer by respondents (83.5 percent) to the challenges of a democracy. The most frequently cited advantage is the promotion of human rights, cited by 87.0 percent of respondents, followed by the opportunity to participate in decision-making (85.7 percent), the guarantee of freedom of opinion and freedom of the press (85.1 percent), the development of peace (82.7 percent) and the recognition of political diversity of opinion and discourse (79.0 percent).
When asked who is primarily responsible for conveying democratic values, 59.0 percent of respondents named the education system. However, there are differences between the generations: while baby boomers more often see the parents as primarily responsible (57.9 percent), Generation Z sees it as the education system (60.8 percent) and the media (51.5 percent).
Overall, respondents most frequently obtain information from news programs on television (55.2 percent), followed by online news portals (47.8 percent). 58.8 percent of young people up to 25 years of age cite social media as the main source they use when it comes to political (further) education.
In addition, 35.6 percent of Generation Z say they have already used AI technologies such as ChatGPT as a source of political information. In the baby boomer generation, the figure is 11.6 percent.
More than 4 out of 5 people in Germany believe that education can help them make informed decisions in elections. 79.0 percent of respondents see a lack of education as a potential threat to democracy. However, 66.6 percent also agree with the statement that education is no guarantee for a functioning democracy.
Prof.ⁱⁿ Dr.ⁱⁿ Stefanie Kessler says: “Making informed decisions in elections requires that people are able to make political judgments. Education should therefore take a holistic position. This means not only imparting knowledge about politics and the political system, but also enabling practical experience of participation in order to strengthen democratic values.”
The “Democracy and Education” study by the IU International University examines satisfaction with democracy in Germany and the importance of education in obtaining information and making decisions. For the study, the IU surveyed 1,213 people between the ages of 16 and 65, representative of the German population by age and gender. The survey was conducted from May 17, 2024 to May 29, 2024.
The full study is available for download here.
Stefanie Kessler is a professor of social work in the dual study program at the IU in Hanover. Her research areas include learning about democracy and political education in fields of social work such as schools, open child and youth work, and youth and adult education.
Alexandra Wuttig is Chancellor of the IU International University and Professor of Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Law in the IU Distance Learning program. She is an expert in political and social equality. In addition to her duties at the IU, she is committed to equal opportunities for women and is co-founder of several start-ups.
