Promoting EU awareness and tackling disinformation in Estonia

news

May 31, 2024

On the eve of the European Parliament elections, the Estonia Debate Society, in cooperation with IDEA, held a debate event for young students to raise EU awareness and promote civic engagement. As part of the DEUS project, the event focused on language policy and youth leadership, fostering critical thinking and reflection on societal roles. Conducted in Estonian and Russian, the debates addressed issues of cultural identity and use of social media and youth involvement in social movements, aligning with efforts to combat disinformation and promote balanced discourse.

On the eve of the European Parliament elections, the Estonia Debate Society, in cooperation with IDEA, organized a debating event for young people aiming to increase awareness of the European Union and inspire early civic engagement. Part of the DEUS project (Debating European Union Societies), the event targeted students that have not yet participated in any elections, a demographic often overlooked during election cycles.

The event, hosted in two parallel language tracks—Estonian and Russian—was a valuable opportunity to promote understanding and unity across linguistic communities.

The topics explored language policy, exploring the importance of maintaining national languages in an increasingly globalized world and the potential benefits or harms of foreing inforamtion spreading through mediums like social media. Another topic centered on whether young people should take an active role as leaders of social movements, and it prompted deep reflection on the responsibilities of youth in shaping the future.

Through their debates, students not only learned about the EU but also examined their potential as leaders in addressing societal challenges. This event underscored our networks commitment to using debate as a tool for depolarization and combating disinformation by fostering critical thinking. By exploring isues like language policy, multculturalism and youth leadership, we encourage the young participants to question simplistic narratives and engage with complex issues in a nuanced way, aligning with IDEA’s broader efforts for a more informed and balanced political discussions. In a world where disinformation can distort perceptions and fuel division, this event exemplifies the role of debate in empowering the next generation to discern facts, develop informed opinions, and take active roles in their communities.