Slovenská spoločnosť pre výskum mládeže

• Pridané:September 22, 2007
• Komentáre:Žiadny komentár
• Kategória:UP2YOUTH Slovensko

Ladislav Macháček
CERYS FF UCM in Trnava

Introduction

As such, the Slovak Republic is short of a modern history of autonomy, of the existence of plurality and of the processes that arise under the conditions of a market economy. Consequently, it has to deal with new conditions of socialization and,
particularly, with changes in the composition of the ‘youth’ social group – from a homogeneous entity of the socialist social structure into a social aggregate of individuals. A re-thinking of the role of the state, where youth organisations are rooted in civil society rather than in state-party structures, needs to be undertaken. The most obvious dispute that arises here is one of influence, intervention and ownership.

Firstly, there is no place, in a democratic market-oriented society for a paternalist, single-strand base.

Secondly, young people are well aware of where competencies and responsibilities, including their own, lie and so their full and genuine participation in civil society as active citizens cannot be ignored or covertly diminished by any means.

Thirdly, in terms of ‘the universally proclaimed aspiration for an integrated youth policy’, joint ownership of a youth policy is an indispensable ingredient. The implications that emerge here include the level and width (broadness) of competencies and responsibilities. While state influence and intervention, in terms of legal, administrative and financial support are generally accepted, care must be taken to avoid a ‘no-go’ situation where young people do not see the relevance and credibility of a policy which they aspire to co-own.

Report of Slovakia 2007