ABSTRACT
This chapter examines how young people in 29 European countries, aged between 10 and 20, discussed issues around migrancy, refugees, racism and ethnicity and the values that they employed in doing so. They generally show a widespread understanding and agreement with the European values as set out in the European Convention on Human Rights, and their particular concerns when these were being violated or challenged. They drew on current events going on around them, referencing both traditional and new media.
The data was collected from 324 small groups (c. six members each) in deliberative discussions that were largely on issues determined by the group members. The analysis shows how attitudes and values were contextualised by group members and identifies some of the trigger points that focussed discussions on these values. We examine aspects of the social background and family origins of group members and how the characteristics affected discussions. We argue that the research technique of generating deliberative discussions should also be considered as a pedagogic approach, allowing young people to develop the ability and skills to listen to others and participate in discussion, particularly in understanding experiences of racism and discrimination, and give voice and potential agency to them.
