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DEMOCRATIC VALUES AND SOCIETY: STUDENTSВ’ PERCEPTIONS

A. Pajaziti

Abstract

Values can be defined as general standards, as measures of goodness or desirability, as higher order norms (Carrow et.al., 1998). Social values are moral goals to which we commit ourselves. Sociological theories and those about collective deviation today speak about the risk society, moral panic (Thompson), moral breakdown, etc. Education plays a central role in the development and dissemination of basic values. Instances or international institutions implement certain social values that serve the building of a happy, stable society and well-being. The United Nations in year 2000 announced the Millennium Declaration "(Millennium Declaration) in which all member states have reaffirmed certain fundamental values for the XXI century as freedom, equality, solidarity, tolerance, respect for nature and collective responsibility. (Annan, 2003) [1] The Council of Europe has its own list of values that has as goal: democracy, human rights and the rule of law, diversity, prevention of violations of human rights etc. (Wiskemann, 2010: 3) [13] This paper is part of the research project “Democratic values in education and their impementation in the society”, done in July and August 2016 in cooperation with Pedagogic High School of Zürich (PHZ). The sample is constituted from 449 university students (four public and state universities) from three countries, Macedonia, Albania and Kosovo. Another method used in this study is focus group. The main conclusions from this research are as follow: most desirable values is equality; rule of law, democracy, accountability/transparency, meritocracy are not respected at universities; as form of discrimination most frequent is that of economic status, living place and appearance. Students stressed need for more academic freedom and criticism at university auditoriums. There is difference in values perception between public and private university students.

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DOI resolver: doi.org/10.5593/sgemsocial2017/33/S12.021

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