Young Czechs, Poles, Austrians, and Ukrainians

The full-scale war in Ukraine (since 2022) is the largest conflict in Europe since the Second World War. Therefore, young people are often compelled to form specific understandings of the war. A central question of this chapter is how the young generation constructs its understanding of the war. This question is particularly interesting due to the geographical proximity of the conflict. Qualitative research was conducted in three countries (Austria, Czechia, and Poland) using group interviews with young students from four national backgrounds (besides Czechs, Poles, and Austrians, also young Ukrainians studying in Poland). The research shows how fear, uncertainty, and doubt are reflected, and how their experience of living through war circumstances has reshaped their views and values as they attempt to adapt to a new reality.