M.05. Democracy in the Infosphere: Educational Strategies for Active Citizenship

Promoting citizen participation, particularly among young people, stands as one of the most arduous challenges for consolidating genuine civic activism in a healthy democracy. The health of democracy is threatened by multiple crises, inscribed in a neoliberal political context driven by an individualistic rationality that has eroded trust in formal democratic institutions. Consequently, youth resentment—stemming from a lack of recognition within the traditional political system—has found an outlet in forms of bottom-up citizenship. These instances of youth activism serve as critical "exceptions," offering a profound interrogation of the current democratic system.

In countering these atomizing practices, education plays a fundamental role. However, the educational mission faces a monumental challenge within the current technological landscape. The deep mediatization of the infosphere and the extreme polarization of public discourse—rife with misinformation—render it imperative to develop a pedagogy focused on media literacy. The goal is not merely access, but educating new citizens in the conscious, critical use of technology for both informational and formative purposes.

The panel welcomes contributions focusing on issues related to the promotion of active participation, particularly among young people, disadvantaged and marginal groups, which are the result of research in issues such as:

- Local initiatives to promote and educate active citizenship

- Practices of digital citizenship and digital rights claims

- Pedagogical strategies for media literacy and critical thinking.

- Research on local or national participatory democracy mechanisms

- Studies on political participation, with a particular focus on youth forms

- Tools and policies for inclusion and co-design