The 1990s have a long lasting impact on the children who experienced the fall of Soviet-dominated societies and the related transformations on the other side of the "Iron Curtain". This generation consists of the German "Wendekinder" (in the East, but also in the West) who experienced the political turnaround and unification as well as the children of the political revolutions in Poland and the Baltic states, in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, in Hungary and Ukraine. It also includes the children of the former Yugoslav Republics, who experienced political change through the violence of war that led to the creation of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, FYR Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia.

Having now reached adulthood, the question of how this generation deals with the past, present, and future in Europe is raised. The experiences and expectations as well as the social, cultural and political viewpoints that form the foundation of these young adults’ roles in society will guide their decision-making processes as well as their attitudes towards Europe, the European Union and their neighbouring countries.

Conference questions

• How do these young adults define themselves today – culturally, socially and politically?

• Which images of themselves and the so-called "other" do they share? Are there "national" differences?

• What personal, psychological and/or collective difficulties is this generation confronted with?

• How and in what way(s) are family, education, religion, customs and traditions important to those young people? Are there any other influencing factors?

• What experiences are important in their everyday lives? To what extent and how have they changed in the last 25 years?

• Which traditions, rituals and activities are central to their communities?

• What does the disappearance of former socialist symbols and products as well as the appearance of new capitalist ones mean to these young adults?

• To what extent do they use (social) media and for which purpose and with which effect?

• To what extent are they concerned with and affected by issues such as mobility, migration and even re-migration?

• Which individual and collective memories as well as future prospects do they share within their respective nation states and the today’s migrant societies?

• Where do these young adults position themselves within the dichotomy of Europe and their nation states?

• What are their attitudes towards Europe, the European Union and the European idea in general?

• Which role do they assign for civic education? Are there already respective institutions and/or NGOs?

Source: univie