Project Coordinator & Principal Researcher: Professor Spyros Spyrou
Duration: January 2020 - May 2021
Overview
This project studies the phenomenon of youth politics and activism from the perspective of youth themselves, through the case study of youth activism on climate change in Cyprus. Understanding non-formal forms of youth political participation in Cyprus is of critical importance in light of the emerging global discussions on climate change, the visible effects of climate change on the planet and its impact on both nature and human lives. The recent focus of public debate has been the discovery of natural gas in Cyprus’s exclusive economic (maritime) zone which has become a contested political issue between the Republic and Turkey. However, public debate on climate change has been greatly absent in Cyprus. The project will shed light on the role of youth in the fight against climate change and contribute towards creating more knowledge and awareness about their voices and political participation as well as work towards highlighting their role as equal members of society.
Project Outputs
Policy Brief & Research Paper
The Research Paper is available here.
The Policy Brief is available here.
Articles
Theodorou, E., Spyrou, S., & Christou, G. (2023). The Future is Now From Before: Youth Climate Activism and Intergenerational Justice. Journal of Childhood Studies, 59-72
Events
- An open online discussion between young activists and stakeholders on climate change was organised by the European Univercity Cyprus on 7 October 2020.
- The research team presented findings of the Project and discussed the role of education on environmental change at an educational online event organised by the SoScieAtH Research Centre of the European University Cyprus, on Wednesday 26 June 2021.
- Professor Spyrou gave a keynote presentation with the title ‘The Irreducible Child: notes towards a more critically open childhood studies', illustrating his argument with findings from the project, at the 25th Congress of the International Research Society for Children’s Literature: Aesthetic and Pedagogic Entanglements (19-29 October 2021).
- The research team gave a presentation on the project findings, titled ‘Youth’s Climate Activism in times of Covid-19: implications for policy and practice’, at the 34th Council of International Fellowship Conference (5-7 November 2021).
- The Hellenic Observatory participated in the Cyprus Forum 2022 with a joint HO/ELIAMEP panel discussion on Attitudes and Activism towards Climate Change among Young People in Greece and Cyprus and Professor Spyros Spyrou and Dr Eleni Theodorou presented completed research from their project.You can read the event's recap and the speakers' main points here.
Research Team
Project Coordinator and Principal Researcher: Spyros Spyrou, Professor of Anthropology and Sociology, European University Cyprus
Co-Principal Researcher: Eleni Theodorou, Associate Professor Social Foundations of Education, European University Cyprus
Researcher: Georgina Christou, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Social and Political Sciences, University of Cyprus