Citizenship is a multidisciplinary field, touching political science, education, sociology, and cultural studies. It forms the foundation of democratic societies. Amid increasing radicalisation and depoliticisation - phenomena that threaten participatory governance - renewed attention is being paid to citizenship as essential for democracy’s resilience. Scholars across disciplines agree on the urgent need for innovative solutions to reinforce democratic participation and to address the challenges of modern democracies. These efforts not only enrich political studies but also make them more relevant in contemporary society.

This Research Topic aims to explore strategies for strengthening responsible democratic citizenship by enhancing individuals’ capacities to act as autonomous, engaged citizens. Political and civic participation are especially critical during times of crisis. Accordingly, this collection will examine conceptual, empirical, and practical innovations that foster democratic citizenship, with particular focus on advances in civic and citizenship education (CCE) and lifelong learning.

Researchers identify several contemporary threats to democracy, such as social fragmentation, mediatisation, technocracy, and the rise of populism, which can result in political disenchantment. Some propose reforms at the systemic level - including changes in how policies are made and implemented - while others emphasise the need for cultivating democratic competencies among citizens as an everyday practice.

This Research Topic situates itself within the latter perspective, focusing on democratic renewal through the empowerment of individuals, communities, and their relationships. While much literature exists on building citizen competencies, identifying effective strategies that translate into real-world democratic agency remains challenging. Through carefully selected case studies, reviews, and empirical research, this collection will share promising examples where citizens and communities have been empowered, leading to renewed democratic practices and increased relevance for political science.

The call for papers welcomes contributions that advance knowledge creation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the sharing of novel ideas for democratic citizenship. We are particularly interested in both bottom-up initiatives - where personal and community agency are emphasised - and in integrating these with top-down approaches from public authorities.

The Research Topic will cover the intersections of political science, education, and social innovation, welcoming articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

• challenges and opportunities within modern democracy and citizenship education
• innovative models, policy designs, and governance arrangements in democratic citizenship
• methods and approaches for advancing democratic citizenship education and lifelong learning
• evolution in the content, objectives, and pedagogies of citizenship education
• practical strategies for empowering citizens as informed democratic participants
• translation of academic insights for stakeholders like educators and policymakers
• entry points into political studies that enhance educational dimensions.

We welcome original research, case studies, and review articles. Papers will be selected for relevance and coherence with the research topic, building on contributions from forums such as the ECPR Joint Sessions and the Horizon Europe Democrat project, but the call is open to all.

Are you interested in contributing a manuscript to this Research Topic?

Strengthening Democratic Citizenship: Political, Governance and Educational Innovations

Topic Coordinator