Why do we need political parties? Why is it important to vote in elections? These were some of the questions 80 children, aged 7-12, from the Vienna area explored in a recent workshop given by some of the IP-PAD members.
The workshop was part of the annual KinderuniWien event, where Vienna's universities open their doors to children during the summer, and scientists offer lectures and seminars on various topics. The children are free to choose the subjects that interest them the most.
The workshop on democracy with the title “City of Kids” (Stadt der Kinder) was designed and conducted by Jule Kegel, an IP-PAD doctoral candidate, and Julia Partheymüller, a senior scientist at the University of Vienna's Department of Government. Professor Sylvia Kritzinger, also a member of the IP-PAD team, delivered a virtual opening speech. Due to high demand, the Kinderuni coordinators scheduled the workshop to be held twice on consecutive days, with approximately 40 children taking part each day.
During the workshop, children were first introduced to basic concepts such as democracy and other forms of government. They were then engaged in a game scenario: in the City of Kids, there were two vacant spaces, and the children needed to decide what should be built there. Each child was assigned a role and encouraged to find others with similar preferences. They could then form parties and compete in an election to decide the outcome.
The scientists observed that the children were quite capable of understanding basic political concepts, with some demonstrating impressive prior knowledge. Almost all participants agreed that democracy is the best way to govern a country, and they eagerly participated in the election, broadly accepting the results.
The workshop was a resounding success, showcasing the children's enthusiasm and capability to grasp important democratic principles.
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