Pre-election posters, sponsored videos on TikTok and Instagram, and lively political debates on television have become part of everyday life for young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), regardless of how interested they are in politics.
However, behind the superficial noise of dynamic campaigns lie critical questions: On what basis do young people really form their opinions, and how much do they really know about the system in which they vote? These inquiries are at the heart of discussions of political literacy among young people in BiH.
How Much Do Young People Know About Politics?
The research project “Political Literacy of Youth in BiH,” conducted by the KULT Institute for Youth Development, tested 1,069 young people on 28 political knowledge questions. The average score earned by participants was 57.08 percent.
The questions covered the basics of the functioning of democracy, knowledge of the Constitution of BiH, electoral rights, and the delineation of competencies between different levels of government. The results showed that there is serious room for improvement in understanding the system itself. Political literacy is not only about memorizing the names of institutions and constitutional provisions, but also about the ability to critically observe, recognize media manipulation, and make decisions based on verified facts.
The need to bridge the gap between theory and actual application was the motivation behind the launch of the project “DemokratiQ – Critical Thinking for a Conscious Society” was launched.
When politics becomes a topic that young people want to talk about
The project’s primary goal was to introduce young people to topics such as politics, democracy, and civic participation in a way that was neither boring nor bogged down by dry administrative details. Project coordinator Adnana Mulalić explains that politics is generally portrayed to the public as something extremely complex, inaccessible, and reserved exclusively for party officials and high-level institutions.
“Politics is often presented as something complicated and remote, even though political decisions directly affect young people’s education, employment, standard of living, and future. We wanted to provide young people with knowledge, but—even more importantly—to encourage them to ask questions, verify information, recognize manipulation, and form their own opinions based on facts,” Mulalić points out.
Working with young people in the field immediately brought several key problems to the surface. Although the participants possessed certain general information, most did not clearly understand which level of government is responsible for specific problems in their local community, such as utility issues, educational reforms, or employment. For Mulalić, understanding competencies is crucial because if citizens do not know exactly whom they should address, they cannot exert pressure on decision-makers.
Another major problem was a superficial approach to information from the internet. On the same social media feed, young people today encounter an equal mix of verified news, political propaganda, disinformation, and manipulative content. The short video format often carries a strong emotional charge, so viewers accept claims without questioning who is behind them or what they are based on.
In workshops, however, they noticed a marked shift in young people’s approach, from the usual statement “I saw it on social media” towards concrete questions: Who is the source of this information? Is there evidence to support the claim? What is the other side of the story?
Furthermore, the program placed special emphasis on the culture of dialogue and considering different political options. As Mulalić highlights, the purpose of critical thinking is not for all young people to ultimately hold the same political stance, but for them to be able to clearly articulate the reasons for their views and respect others’ right to hold different opinions.
From Words to Action
One project participant, Ajla Fazlić, honestly admits that before coming to the workshops, she thought she had a solid knowledge of politics. However, encountering concrete analyses showed her how layered the political system actually is.
“When I came to the workshops, I realized how much I really don’t know and how much I can still learn. I think it’s very important to read political programs and get informed before making any decisions,” says Ajla.
In addition to learning how to objectively analyze programs instead of making judgments based solely on the appearance or the charisma of candidates, Ajla also mastered techniques for recognizing fake campaign content and manipulative texts online. This knowledge was not just theoretical; she was able to apply it in everyday conversations with friends and family. Ultimately, she even took it a step further, volunteering to serve as an election observer.
“The best indication is that, thanks to this program, I decided to serve as an election observer this year and thus participate more actively in democratic processes and society,” says Ajla, adding that this was the most natural way to put theoretical knowledge into practice.
Civic Responsibility Beyond the Ballot Box
DemokratiQ shows that civic participation does not begin and end with voting, and young people do not have to join a party to be politically active. It is enough to follow the efforts in their local communities, participate in public debates, volunteer, and ask questions of institutions.
Being informed before elections does not mean knowing all the legal stipulations by heart or following every political talk show. It means pausing to think critically before sharing a video on social media, checking who is behind claims that are made, and carefully reading published political programs. In the end, it requires a willingness to reconsider our own views and change them if we are faced with better arguments.
Ajla Fazlić’s message best illustrates the importance of taking civic responsibility:
“If we young people don’t take action and start actively participating in politics, the elders will continue to ‘shape our destiny’ and make decisions that shape our future, and the current plan, frankly, is not exactly to our liking,” she said.
Elections are just one day on the calendar, but the questions we ask, the information we check, and the way we talk about society determine the quality of life long after the ballot boxes close.
