controversies and generational differences young people’s identities in some european states争议和代际差异在一些欧洲国家年轻人的身份.pdf

Educ. Sci. 2012, 2, 91-104; doi:10.3390/educsci2020091 OPEN ACCESS education sciences ISSN 2227-7102 /journal/education Article Controversies and Generational Differences: Young People’s Identities in Some European States Alistair Ross Institute for Policy Studies in Education, London Metropolitan University, 166-220 Holloway Road, London N7 8DB, UK; E-Mail: a.ross@londonmet.ac.uk; Tel.: +44-20-7133-4220; Fax: +44-20-7133-4219 Received: 22 February 2012; in revised form: 17 April 2012 / Accepted: 18 April 2012 / Published: 21 May 2012 Abstract : This article explores how young people (aged 12– 18) in the four Visegrad states of Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic are constructing their identities, particularly their sense of attachment to their country and to Europe. This generation is of particular significance, in that they are the first generation for many years to have been born and socialised in wholly independent states that are in a relatively peaceful and stable state. Data was collected through 41 focus groups, conducted in 11 different locations in the different states, and were analysed in terms of the degree of enthusiasm expressed for civic institutions and cultural practices related to the country and to Europe. Two particular areas were identified: the sense of generational difference and the ways in which different groups created “other” communities,