Ana Đorđević (1991) is a Research Fellow at the Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory. She obtained her BA, MA, and PhD in psychology at the University of Belgrade, Faculty of Philosophy. Her research interests are positioned in sociocultural and critical psychology, qualitative methodologies, and engagement studies, with a special focus on identity and subjectivity issues. She published several empirical and theoretical articles in national and international journals, as well as the monograph The Scent of Ajvar and the Scent of Lavender. Limitations and the Freedom of/from Ethnic Identification for Serbia’s Youth. She is an assistant editor of Critique: The Journal for Philosophy and the Theory of Society.

“POLITICAL EMOTIONS AND PARTICIPATION OF THE REGIONAL YOUTH: What matters to them and what do they strive for?“

In contrast to political apathy and abstinence among the youth in the region, this research tends to provide fresh theoretical and empirical insights into young people’s political affect and political engagement. To do this, it will provide a summary of the study on youth political participation and a review of the literature on the connection between politics and emotions. Subsequently, the gap in knowledge on the various forms and platforms of youth political participation and engagement in the Western Balkans will be highlighted. Then, questions will be asked about the meanings, emotions, and future-oriented goals that young people aspire to attain in their sociopolitical environment, based on the alternative epistemological perspective in psychology known as the transformative activist stance (Anna Stetsenko). The research will include a qualitative empirical study on this topic among youth (18–30 years old) from Montenegro, Croatia, and Serbia to supplement the results of the predominately quantitative research.