Becoming Political: Facets of Political Socialization in East-Central Europe (An Introduction)

The article introduces the thematic issue of Forum Historiae, which examines the processes of politicization and political socialization in Central and East-Central Europe during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It situates these phenomena within the broader context of modernizing and nationalizing states, focusing on the challenges of analysing initial politicization among non-elite and subaltern populations. Drawing on insights from social science and historical research, the article critiques static and overly normative frameworks of political socialization and emphasizes the need for a nuanced understanding of how political awareness develops across diverse social, cultural, and generational contexts.