Education and Democratic Orientations: Unpacking the Role of Level, Field, and Generational Influence

This study examines how individuals’ level of education and field of study influence their support for democracy, political interest, political participation, and political consumerism. In doing so, the study represents a key contribution to the literature on the role of education in fostering democratic citizenship, given the lack of previous research taking potential field of study differences into account in this regard. Using data from the Czech Household Panel Study (2015-2019), we assess cognitive, socialization, indoctrination, and allocation effects explanations to determine the mechanisms through which education shapes democratic citizenship. We find a robust positive relationship between one’s overall education level and support for democracy, aligning with cognitive theories holding that improved critical thinking and literacy encourage democratic citizenship. The results also suggest that politically-adjacent fields such as humanities foster democratic citizenship, findings we also consider consistent with cognitive theories. Additionally, we note significant generational differences in the effects of studying social sciences in particular, suggesting that exposure to contrasting political ideologies, namely communism and liberal democracy, may facilitate selective indoctrination. Overall, our results imply that broader access to education promotes democratic citizenship, as educational attainment, regardless of field, is positively associated with democratic support and political engagement.