Greek Conceptions of Citizenship and the State Role

This paper aims at exploring aspects of political thinking of Greek adolescents. The focus is on the ways in which 15year-old students conceptualize citizenship and the role of the state, on the basis of research findings related to civic education (CIVED). Students conceptualizations have been identified through factor analysis. The concepts are derived on the basis of students’ responses to the relevant itemsquestions in the IEA CIVICS Research. The same concepts serve as categories in the conducted content analysis of the official textbook. Students’ conceptualizations are further explored on the basis of the students social characteristics. The approach aims to explore textbook content and students conceptualizations as distinct but nevertheless related fields. In such an approach, conceptions which deviate from the formulated in the literature model of citizenship and the role of the state are not treated as limitations, but as alternative possibilities in the creation of meanings specific to the Greek society and culture. In this case, adaptations and/or co-existence of modern/western conceptions with pre-existing/local context, are viewed as unique modes of understanding and experiencing citizenship and the role of the state.