Democracy Tree Research Report

Aims of the tool

- To analyze how young people and youth workers in Europe understand democracy and European values.
- To document cases of racism, xenophobia, and discrimination affecting youth and provide tools to address them.
- To offer accessible, reliable resources on the historical development of democracy.
- To support youth workers and educators in promoting inclusion, tolerance, and civic participation through research-based tools.

Description of the tool

The Democracy Tree project developed three interlinked research resources, based on coordinated field and desk research in Bulgaria, Turkey, Portugal, Cyprus, Ireland, and Estonia.

1. Overall Report
This comprehensive document brings together the main findings from:
- Field research: exploring how young people and youth workers understand European values, democracy, and civic participation, as well as their views on current challenges.
- Case documentation: identifying and analyzing concrete examples of racism, xenophobia, and discrimination among young people across Europe.
- Desk research: providing historical background on the development of democracy, with a focus on six key periods:
Ancient Roots (5th–4th centuries BCE)
Mediaeval and Renaissance Period (5th–15th centuries)
Enlightenment and Democratic Revolutions (17th–18th centuries)
19th and Early 20th Centuries
Post-World War II Era
The EU Today

2. Bank of Cases of Discrimination, Racism and Xenophobia in Europe
A collection of real cases gathered during the field research, highlighting how discrimination affects young people in different contexts. The case bank serves as a practical resource for youth workers and educators, offering examples that can be used in workshops, discussions, and trainings to make abstract issues concrete and relatable.

3. Data Bank
A curated repository of information and links to reliable resources on the history of democracy. The Data Bank supports educators, trainers, and youth workers by providing easy access to background materials, references, and further readings on the six historical periods of democracy covered by the project.

Together, these resources offer both analytical insights and practical tools to strengthen youth work on democracy, inclusion, and civic values. They can be used for training sessions, workshops, or as a basis for further educational and advocacy activities.