Politička interes i i stavovi studenata: Komparativna analiza Sveučilišta u Linzu i Sveučilišta u Mostaru

Abstract

The topic of this paper is students’ political interest, with a focus on how and to what extent students express interest in politics and political engagement in society. Special attention is given to a comparative analysis of student political engagement in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Austria.

The political potential of students in both countries is examined through the theoretical framework of choice as a relational construct, emphasizing the interaction between individual factors and the political environment that together shape patterns of political participation.

To this end, a quantitative study was conducted with a sample of 749 respondents, including 524 students from Johannes Kepler University in Linz and 185 students from the University of Mostar. The analysis revealed that Austrian students demonstrate a higher level of political involvement and greater trust in democratic institutions compared to students in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

These differences suggest that students’ democratic potential does not solely depend on their personal attitudes, but is also significantly shaped by the broader socio-p political environment. The higher level of political participation among Austrian students stems not only from individual differences, but also from a stable, functional, and democratically structured society that supports such engagement.