Democracy cannot be understood merely as elections, state institutions, or the transfer of power. Democracy must also be embedded in the way citizens think, discuss issues, address differences, use information, and engage in decision-making that affects their shared lives.
Perludem has published the Perludem Democracy Academy Module as a learning resource to help the younger generation understand democracy more deeply, critically, and contextually. This module is designed so that democracy education does not stop at introducing concepts, but also encourages participants to experience and practice democratic values in their daily lives.
This module covers four main learning clusters: basic understanding of democracy, actors in democracy, democracy in the digital space, and democratic skills. The discussion covers, among other things, the values and history of democracy, human rights and citizenship, elections and representation, political parties and state institutions, the role of the media and civil society, personal data protection, disinformation, artificial intelligence, as well as skills in presenting arguments, negotiating, and advocating for public policy.
The material in this module was developed using a participatory and experience-based learning approach. Participants are not only encouraged to read and listen, but also to discuss, analyze case studies, conduct simulations, verify information, construct data-driven arguments, and design simple actions to address issues in their communities.
Through this module, Perludem aims to support the growth of young citizens who understand their rights and responsibilities, are able to critically evaluate information, are open to differences, and have the courage to participate responsibly in public life.
The Perludem Democracy Academy module can be used by students, educators, communities, civil society organizations, and others who wish to organize democracy education activities.
