Critical thinking in the region: suspended, jobless, stigmatized

Critical thinking faces significant hurdles in the Balkan region, with individuals who apply it often facing suspension, job loss, and social stigma. The core question is whether critical thinking, which involves questioning facts and authority, can truly flourish in environments where students are expected to be obedient and teachers must remain cautious and loyal to the system. This is explored in the program "Crvena linija" (Red Line).

Experts like Biljana Prlina, a suspended professor, Ivan Cerovac, a university lecturer, and Vedran Zubić, a geography teacher, are discussing these issues. They examine how subjects like civic education in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Schools and Community in Croatia, aim to foster critical thinking. However, they also highlight how the politicization of divided societies, unregulated media landscapes, social conformity, and fear of judgment actively impede its development.

The discussion extends to the impact of functional illiteracy, with research indicating that half of students in the region are functionally illiterate. This raises further questions about the possibility of developing critical thinking skills when a fundamental level of literacy is not met. The program aims to shed light on these complex challenges and the societal factors that shape intellectual development in the region.