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What happened (trends):

Urbanization and mass literacy

Imperial networks and travel

Rise of mass youth movements and voluntarism

Growing interest in health, outdoor education and national character building across Europe.

How it affected people & Scouting:

Robert Baden-Powell’s experimental camp at Brownsea Island (Aug 1907) crystallised an outdoor, patrol-based youth pedagogy. Within a few years Scouting spread quickly across European countries and the British Empire, offering a transnational language of badges, camping and youth leadership that crossed class lines. Scouting’s early growth reflected a pan-European appetite for organized youth training and civic formation.

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Lieutenant General Robert S.S. (later Lord) Baden-Powell

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The Scouting movement started off as an organization that was founded in order to educate boys between the ages of 11 and 15 about good citizenship, chivalry, and the ability to participate in a variety of outdoor activities. The founder of the scouting movement was Lieutenant General Robert S.S. (later Lord) Baden-Powell, was a general in the British Army who defended the town of Mafeking in the South African War(1899–1902).

In 1907, Baden-Powell, gathered 20 boys on Brownsea Island off the south coast of England for what would become the very first Scout camp and what has been seen as the birth of the Scout movement.

Baden-Powell had been in the military for over 30 years when he returned to England after many years in India, Afghanistan, West Africa and South Africa. He was not alone in his concern, in the spirit of the times, about the "spiritual and physical weakness" of the young male population. He describes seeing "thousands of boys and young men who were pale, narrow-chested, hunched-over, dull types who were constantly smoking cigarettes and who were engaged in betting". Baden-Powell wanted to create a meaningful place for these boys, but he also wanted to prepare them for combat.

Baden-Powell published a book in 1908 called “Scouting for Boys” about a handbook for instruction in good citizenship, in which he collected his ideas about scouting. At the same time, he also set out on a lecture tour throughout the country. And suddenly there were many who wanted to become scouts. Three years after the camp on Brownsea Island, there were over 100,000 scouts in England and Scotland. Just a few years later, scouting existed on every continent.

Point:

Making youths have good citizenship, chivalry, and the ability to participate in a variety of outdoor activities.

Motto “Be Prepared”

Transnational angle:

The movement spread quickly across Europe, being a cross- border movement before WWI

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Agnes Baden-Powell, sister to Robert Baden-Powell

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Although scouting was originally an activity for boys, demand for an equivalent for girls quickly arose. Baden-Powell’s sister, Agnes Baden-Powell, founded a movement in 1910 based on the same principles for girls. Agnes Baden-Powell was the first President of the British Girl Guides Association, a title she held from its formation in 1910 until 1917. She was then made the Vice-President, a role she held until her death in 1945.

Point:

Establishing a separate organisation based on the same principals of Scouting but for girls.

Transnational note:

The movement spread also very quickly across Europe for girls to do scouting too, still being a cross- border movement before WWI.

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What happened (trends):

Total war mobilized societies (men, industry, logistics)

Civilian labour and voluntary work increased

Wartime nationalism and state control intensified.

How it affected people & Scouting:

Scouts across many countries engaged in war-related civil duties such as coast-watching, message-carrying, farm work and first aid. Scouting’s skills like navigation, signaling, and discipline were repurposed for national emergencies. This strengthened Scouting’s social legitimacy but also tied parts of the movement to wartime national agendas. The movement remained international in outlook like international gatherings before and during war, but wartime ruptures cut many cross-border contacts.

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Girl Guide War Service Badge 1914 and separate dated badges were issued for each year.

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Instead of serving in the military during World War I, Girl Guides UK(United Kingdom) served as first responders, hospital volunteers, entertainers for injured troops, land workers, and even soup kitchen volunteers.

In 1914, the War Service badge was introduced, and in order to obtain it, one of the following requirements had to be met. Girl Guides had to do 100 hours of agricultural labor, three hours of volunteer combat duty every day for 21 days, or the production of 15 articles of apparel, such as two shirts, four pairs of socks, and pajamas. As a fantastic resource for gas masks, Girl Guides were also urged to gather the stones from fruits such as apricots, cherries, plums, dates, and nutshells since it was thought that the charcoal left over after burning may absorb harmful gas.

The crucial role Girl Guides played in securing the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, which formally ended World War I, is something that many people may not be aware of. If it had not been for Girl Guides there would have been no end to the World War because they were the couriers and special messengers for the Versailles Treaty that no one knew about.

Nobody knew that they were in charge of protecting and relaying the confidential signals between all of the nations involved in the peace talks. Particularly in Essex, given the highly classified work done at Stow Maries and the Marconi Wireless Telegraph. Because the Girl Guides served as Marconi's private couriers and messengers, the Admiralty eventually utilized them, which led to them being used by MI5.

Point:

Girls Guides as well in many countries performed home-front duties: messengers, first aid, agricultural work.

Transnational angle:

The movement’s discipline and skills were channeled into wartime service.

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In the early days of the War, Scouts sent letters to Headquarters asking how they could help with the War effort.

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Cooperation between allied countries were also roles that scouts filled, around 2,000 British boy scouts were ready to help with the French harvest in Dieppe from Britain in 1914.

While farming, coast watching and carrying messages were the main tasks undertaken by Scouts, some groups were asked to take on other roles. This included guarding railway junctions, and telegraph and telephone cables against enemy sabotage.

Point:

Scouts also preformed agricultural works outside borders.

Transnational angle:

Scouts were helping each others allied countries during wartime.

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This recruitment poster was designed by Robert Baden-Powell and published in 1915

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On August 4th 1914 Britain entered the war and at that time scouting had existed for six years. Baden- Powell wanted to figure out how Scouts could help out and support the war efforts. The older scouts and volunteers would join the Armed Forces while the younger scouts could also ‘do their bit’ on a home base. Baden Powell wanted the younger boys to not be placed in a military role but rather support the essential services. In 1915 Baden-Powell designed a poster, indicating all the essential roles in the war efforts. He highlights a soldier, a sailor, a worker, a woman making ammunition, and a Boy Scout, all contributing to the war. The idle man in a suit stands apart, with the poster's title questioning his contribution of “Are YOU in this?" to support Britain.

Point:

Scout leaders and older Scouts enlisted. The movement’s discipline and skills were channeled into wartime service.

Transnational angle:

Wartime propaganda in multiple countries used Scout-like imagery to encourage service.

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Coast Watching by Ernest Stafford Carlos 

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Scouts in Britain were taught different outdoors and survival skills that came into great use for the different war support needed. There were Sea scouts helping out guarding the shores for the German enemy and sending signals and delivering messages. While Sea scouts are more focused on learning water based skills, other scout groups grew interest to be of service at the shores as well. The scouts were not being paid and instead volunteered or received a basic subsistent allowance.

Point:

The movement’s discipline and skills were channeled into wartime service.

Transnational angle:

Scouts in many countries performed home-front duties.

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1919–1938 (Interwar internationalism and the rise of authoritarian suppression)

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1919–1938 (Interwar internationalism and the rise of authoritarian suppression)

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What happened (trends):

A flourishing of international institutions (League of Nations, exchange of ideas)

Cultural experimentation (arts, mass media)

Rising authoritarianism, political polarization, and economic crises (Great Depression).

Rise of fascism, Nazism, authoritarian consolidation across parts of Europe

How it affected people & Scouting:

The Scout movement formalized international structures and continued cross-border jamborees and exchanges.

However in several countries Scouting was suppressed, co-opted, or replaced by state youth organizations that adopted Scout-like uniforms, rituals, and outdoor training but taught loyalty to the regime for example Communist pioneers, Fascist youth organizations, and later Hitler Youth.

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The League of Youth a Cartoon in Punch magazine 4 August 1920, referring to the 1st World Scout Jamboree in the context of the aftermath of World War I

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In 1920, the first ever World Scout Jamboree for boys took place in London, United Kingdom with the theme of "Develop World Peace”.

The caption reads, "War-weary World (at the Jamboree): 'I was nearly losing hope, but the sight of all you boys gives it back to me,'"

In the background, there are flags from various nations supposedly taking part in the 1st World Scout Jamboree, including South Africa, Italy, France, Australia, Belgium, Romania, Sweden and Greece.

Baden- Powell gave a closing speech at the Jamboree:

"Brother Scouts. Differences exist between the peoples of the world in thought and sentiment, just as they do in language and physique. The Jamboree has taught us that if we exercise mutual forbearance and give and take, then there is sympathy and harmony. If it be your will, let us go forth fully determined that we will develop among ourselves and our boys that comradeship, through the world wide spirit of the Scout brotherhood, so that we may help to develop peace and happiness in the world and goodwill among men"

He was given the title Chief Scout of the World and his wife Olave World Chief Guide.

Point:

Scouting refocused on international understanding and peace education (international jamborees and inter-national camping).

Transnational angle:

A Jamboree is a means of developing a spirit of comradeship among the boys of many nations and the more that aspect can be stressed, the more successful a Jamboree becomes. Scout contacts became symbolic sites for reconciliation, being from different defeated and victorious nations meeting was politically and culturally significant.

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Following the first World Scout Jamboree in 1920, which brought together leaders from 33 nations, the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) was founded in 1922 in London, England. The first World Scout Conference and the election of the first World Scout Committee in 1922 are important early events. The World Scout Bureau was established in 1920. With 176 member countries, the organization has subsequently expanded to become the biggest worldwide Scouting organization.

Point:

WOSM, which originated in post-World War I Europe, represented the values of youth collaboration, moral education, and global solidarity.

Transnational angle:

The establishment of WOSM mirrored the League of Nations in its pursuit of peace by collaboration, reflecting postwar internationalism in Europe.

Scouting promoted unity and common ideals across national borders as a kind of cultural diplomacy.

WOSM quickly developed into a really worldwide network, demonstrating the transnational movement of ideas and organizations throughout the interwar years, although having its roots in European ideals of citizenship and moral growth.

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"Be proud, Soviet Pioneer, your country is the USSR!"

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Soviet union:

The Soviet government was among the first to ban the Scouting movement. It replaced it with the Youth Pioneer organization, which served to indoctrinate youth in communist ideology.

The Boy Scouts were more than just a youth group when Vladimir Lenin banned them in 1920. He was eliminating the notion that youth may develop their capacity for autonomous thought, moral behavior, and community service outside of governmental authority. Lenin was terrified of the Boy Scouts because of their focus on independence, moral growth, and public service being a basis for free citizens, not subservient subjects.

The Youth Pioneer Organization was founded in 1922 under the ban of other youth organization. Its goal was solely political, but it adopted the Scouts' organizational structure and external symbols, such as uniforms, salutes, and promises. Youngsters as young as nine were drafted into the Pioneers and raised as Communist Party employees rather than as citizens. The Pioneers propagated mistrust of independent thinking, adoration of the Soviet state, and allegiance to Lenin and Stalin. Kids were taught to report any anti-Soviet activity, including that of their own parents. They learnt to support the dictatorship rather than the community. Scout scarves were replaced by red neckerchiefs, which represented ideological blood sacrifice rather than duty.

Lenin realized that he had to influence young people's brains in order to control the future. Development was not a priority for the Pioneers. Although the Soviet Union fell apart in 1991, its strategies persisted. The Pioneers' rationale is back under Vladimir Putin. In order to reproduce the organization and goals of the Pioneers for the twenty-first century, the Kremlin initiated a new youth movement in 2022, known as the Movement of the First (Движение первых).

Point:

Scouting's uniforms, salutes, and vows were imitated by the Pioneers, but its focus shifted to Communist Party loyalty.

Transnational angle:

The Pioneers were a state-run countermodel that prioritized ideological conformity and monitoring, whereas Scouting encouraged global collaboration and moral citizenship.

This comparison demonstrates how, in the 20th century, youth groups became into instruments of opposing international ideologies: communist against democracy.

State-led youth groups in Russia have persisted and even flourished, demonstrating the long-lasting international impact of Soviet social control techniques that go beyond the USSR's existence.

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Fascist Italy:

Benito Mussolini's Fascist regime began the process of suppressing Scouting groups in 1927 and formally banned them in 1928, replacing the movement with the state-controlled Opera Nazionale Balilla. The Italian fascist youth group Opera Nazionale Balilla (ONB) operated from 1926 to 1937, when it was merged into the National Fascist Party's youth wing, Gioventù Italiana del Littorio (GIL).

Beyond its intended role as a cultural institution that was meant to be the ideological equivalent of school, the organization also functioned as a paramilitary organization by training for future assignments in the Italian Army and provided education in technology including post-school courses for legal adults, career-related education only for the girls, or home and family education. It trained young people to become "the fascists of tomorrow" by indoctrinating them with a message of Italianness and fascism.

An Italian reader writes, "After the Fascist regime banned the boys scouts (1927), some groups continued the activities underground, especially in northern Italy." Groups who wanted to stay loyal to Baden Powell's initial movement were surreptitiously founded in numerous towns and cities. The "Silent Jungle" is the name given to this period in Italian Scouting history. The Catholic ASCI Association's Boy Scouts group "Milano 2" persisted in their cautious pursuit of Scouting. Other groups from Monza, a small town close to Milan, and Milan were present. They adopted the term "Aquile randagie" (Stray Eagles) as they were unable to identify as Scouts. Giulio Cesare Uccellini and Andrea Ghetti were in charge. Some boy scout leaders apparently took part in the Resistance during the Allied invasion in September 1943. After Italy submitted to the Allies and the Germans took power, Ghetti and Uccellini both joined Catholic Resistance organizations. The Stray Eagles took part in ASCI's reconstruction following the war (1945).

Point:

Using ONB to indoctrinate youngsters with fascist ideology, allegiance to Mussolini, and martial discipline, the dictatorship sought to dominate all youth institutions.

These underground Scouts eventually joined the Resistance during World War II and contributed to the reconstruction of Scouting after 1945, signifying the persistence of moral and democratic principles in the face of oppression.

Transnational angle:

The ONB connected Italian fascism to broader totalitarian experiments in Europe by reflecting interwar patterns of state-directed youth militarization around the world.

In opposition to authoritarian uniformity, the existence of Scouting linked Italian resisters to a global network of democratic and religious youth groups.

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The symbol for the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS)

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The First World Conference, which took place in England in 1920, was a landmark event that allowed representatives from the Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting communities to come together and share their thoughts and experiences. In addition to strengthening and elevating the worldwide scouting and guiding experience, this increased the movement's visibility and awareness.

After the International Council learned about Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting, organizations started organizing trips overseas for the first time. In 1924, 1,100 girls and young women from 40 countries attended the First World Camp, which was held in conjunction with the Third International Conference in Foxlease, UK.

Lord Robert Baden-Powell, requested all recognized Girl Guide and Girl Scout groups for their thoughts on the idea. At the Fifth International Conference in Hungary in 1928, representatives from twenty-six nations came together to form the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS).

Point:

Having all Girl Guide and Girl Scout groups be recognized for their thoughts on the idea as well and not only the boy scouts.

Transnational angle:

Similar to the internationalism of WOSM, the establishment of WAGGGS represented a transnational movement for female empowerment and global citizenship.

It demonstrated how, following World War I, women's youth groups used worldwide collaboration to advance leadership, peace, and intercultural understanding.

WAGGGS established a model of non-political international cooperation by creating shared structures and events that united young women from many countries via similar educational goals and values.

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Nazi Germany:

As the Nazis consolidated power, they disbanded Scouting and other independent youth movements between 1934 and 1935. All young people were instead forced to join the Hitler Youth.

The Hitler Youth or Hitlerjugend (HJ) as it was called in Germany was the Nazi-organized youth movement. The organisation focused on youths of Germany from age 10 to 18 and was established in 1926 by Adolf Hitler. The movement was divided into different sections for boys and girls. The boys’ branch was simply called the Hitler Youth. The girls’ branch was called the League of German Girls or Bund Deutscher Mädel (BDM). The Hitler Youth and the League of German Girls were developed as Nazi Party youth groups to introduce children and juveniles to Nazi ideology and policy. These youth groups also prepared Germany’s young people for war.

In the following years, the Nazi regime encouraged and pressured young people to join the Hitler Youth organizations. Enthusiasm, peer pressure, and coercion led to a significant increase in membership. Significantly, Jews were not allowed to join these organizations. Jewish youth set up their own youth groups in Germany in the 1930s.

In Germany, youth movements and scouting have been prominent since the late 19th and early 20th centuries. There were several political, social, and religious youth organizations in Germany in 1933 when the Nazis took control of the country. Scouting uniforms were frequently worn by these youth groups in different variations.

When the Hitler Youth first applied for worldwide accreditation from the worldwide Boy Scouts Bureau (1933–1934), they were turned down, which solidified their status as an ideological group.

Point:

The Hitler Youth sought to instill Nazi philosophy, allegiance to Hitler, and martial characteristics in youngsters between the ages of 10 and 18.

Transnational angle:

Similar to the USSR and Fascist Italy, Nazi persecution of Scouting was part of a larger European totalitarian trend in which governments dismantled autonomous civic associations in order to control young allegiance and education.

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What happened (trends):

Mass violence

Occupation of territories

Radical reshaping of societies

Massive displacement and civilian suffering.

How it affected people & Scouting:

In countries occupied by or allied with totalitarian regimes, independent Scouting was often banned and replaced by state youth bodies as previously mentioned in the Soviet Union, Italy and Germany. In some places scouts participated in resistance or civil defence; elsewhere, Scouting leaders and members faced persecution. Transnational links were difficult and the movement’s global network suffered but individual national and underground activities kept the movement alive in many places.

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Europe: Countries with Legal or Relatively Open Scouting During WWII

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Europe: Countries with Legal or Relatively Open Scouting During WWII

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United Kingdom, legal, fully active:

Messengers, air-raid lookouts, first aid, evacuation of children, relief work, fundraising

Ireland, Legal (neutral):

Civil defense, first aid, community support, fundraising

Sweden, Legal (neutral)

Civil defense, Red Cross work, support for refugees

Switzerland, Legal (neutral)

Aid to refugees, civil defense, Red Cross support

Portugal, Legal (neutral, though small)

Humanitarian aid, community support

Spain, Legal but limited under Franco

Some humanitarian and local community support, though Scouting was restricted after the Civil War (1936–39)

Notes on partially occupied/underground Scouting

Netherlands, Belgium, France, Poland, Czechoslovakia: Scouting was banned under German occupation, but underground movements existed. Scouts participated in resistance, message carrying, aiding Jews, and relief work but not openly.

In Europe, Scouting remained openly active primarily in neutral countries and the UK/Ireland, while in occupied countries it either went underground or was banned entirely.

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Point:

British Scouts actively supported civil defense organizations during German air strikes during the Blitz (September 1940–May 1941).

Scouts performed vital and hazardous tasks to help the Air Raid Warden's Service, fire, and medical services.

Scouting persisted in the Irish Free State, which remained neutral throughout World War II, despite the island being indirectly impacted by the conflict, especially in Ulster, which was still a part of the UK and was bombed by the Germans.

Under the direction of patrol leaders, Ulster Scouts carried out comparable wartime tasks, including messengers, fire monitors, stretcher bearers, and salvage collectors.

Transnational angle:

The wartime experience demonstrated Scouting's transnational durability and civic function, demonstrating its adaptation in a variety of political circumstances (Britain at war, Ireland neutral).

The acts of British and Irish Scouts transcended national boundaries and wartime differences, embodying the universal Scouting principles of service and cooperation.

Both national self-determination and continuous adherence to universal Scouting values were represented in the postwar establishment of the autonomous Irish Scouting association.

In contrast to the state-led youth movements of totalitarian regimes, Scouting's international character as a civic, humanitarian force was strengthened by its work during the Blitz and in wartime Ireland.

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Scouter i beredskap(1942) Standby during wartime, Scout movie

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In Sweden boy scouts were promoted on how they were on standby with their readiness to work during the ww2 years and the training activities that the association organized to prepare the scouts for these tasks, such as patrol competitions in observation skills, firefighting and emergency medical care. The scouts' efforts in agriculture was also seen during that period. The scout leader Folke Bernadotte even gave a speech, urging the scouts to continue their great work in the community.

During World War II, Girl Scouts, especially in Sweden, actively participated in community service by getting involved in food security, including through "agricultural camps" where they helped with agricultural work. The organization's membership increased dramatically during the war years, and Girl Scouts were also given other tasks such as air surveillance.

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In addition to serving as nurses, chefs, seamstresses, and communicators, girl scouts fought alongside the boys. They attended covert medical courses, educated children, and oversaw orphanages.

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1939-1945—Youth in Resistance: The Polish Scouts

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1939-1945—Youth in Resistance: The Polish Scouts

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While Germany occupied Poland from 1939-1945, a critical youth movement went underground along with the Polish Home army. The Polish Scouts, which had been founded in the early 20th century, became the Szare Szeregi, or Gray Ranks, training the next generation of soldiers and citizens.

Scouting's function as a global social integrator, uniting people from different backgrounds by common principles rather than nationality, was brought to light by the refugee response. Because they saw scouting as a source of pride and patriotism, the Nazis attempted to outlaw it in Poland. However, the Szare Szeregi, who met underground throughout the German occupation, joined the fight for Poland's independence after the war.

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Communist Eastern Europe: As communist governments took power in the Eastern Bloc, Scouting was systematically suppressed in countries like Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, and Romania. In many cases, it was replaced by a Pioneer organization.

1940: Czechoslovakia: Following the Nazi occupation, Scouting was banned. While Scouting was briefly revived after World War II, it was banned again in 1950 and 1970 under the subsequent communist regime.

1940s: Soviet-occupied Eastern Europe: After World War II, the Soviet Union imposed bans on Scouting in the countries it occupied, including Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

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Germany: Scouting was able to resume in West Germany after the defeat of the Nazi regime. Following the reunification of Germany in 1990, it was also allowed in the former East Germany.

Italy: The ban imposed by the fascist government was lifted after the end of World War II in 1945.

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What were the overall trends during the specific time period?

During this period, Europe was divided between Western democratic states and Eastern socialist states under Soviet influence.
This division shaped youth life, civic organizations, identity, and Scouting in profoundly different ways across the continent.

Scouting became, in many places, both a space of community and rebuilding and a symbol of ideological struggle — banned in the East, encouraged in the West, and revived later during democratic renewal.

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Post-War Rebuilding & the Role of Scouting in Civil Society (late 1940s–1950s)

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Post-War Rebuilding & the Role of Scouting in Civil Society (late 1940s–1950s)

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Societal Context:

After WWII, Europe was physically destroyed and socially traumatized.

There was a powerful need to rebuild communities, trust, and a sense of future, especially for youth.

Western Europe began receiving U.S. Marshall Plan assistance and reconstructing institutions.

Scouting’s Role:

In countries where Scouting had been suppressed during WWII, it was re-established almost immediately.
Scouting provided:

Safe social environments for young people affected by war

Training in leadership, responsibility, cooperation, and practical skills

Camps and outdoor activities as spaces for healing, play, and rebuilding normal childhood.Following the devastation of World War II, 6th World Scout Jamboree in France 1947, was aptly named the Jamboree of Peace. The Jamboree showed that even through the years of the war, the Scout Movement was still strong and growing.

Shared Social Meaning:

Scouting acted as:

A structure of stability during social recovery

A way to restore civic participation in democratic societies

A place where young people could reconnect with trust and community

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General Secretary Brezhnev at the Artek children's summer camp (1979), Crimea, Ukrainian SSR.

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East–West Division: Suppression in the East, Growth in the West (1950s–1980s)

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East–West Division: Suppression in the East, Growth in the West (1950s–1980s)

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Societal Context

Europe split into two ideological blocs:

Western democracies (NATO aligned)

Eastern communist states (Warsaw Pact)

Civil society organizations were restricted or state-controlled in the East.

Youth organizations were used for political education and loyalty.

Scouting’s Divergent Experience

West (Democratic Europe):

Scouting continued and expanded

Encouraged self-governance & service

Strengthened international cooperation

East (Soviet-aligned Europe):

Scouting was banned or replaced

Youth were directed into state youth groups

Activities focused on political loyalty to the state

State replacements included groups like:

Pioneers (symbolic uniformed youth organizations)

Komsomol / Junior communist leagues

Shared Social Meaning

In the West → Scouting signaled democratic citizenship and personal initiative

In the East → The absence of Scouting symbolized centralized control of youth identity

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Czechoslovak Exile Scouting – The movement that binds many émigrés beyond the Cold War

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Peace, International Friendship & Cross-Border Contact (1960s–1980s)

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Peace, International Friendship & Cross-Border Contact (1960s–1980s)

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Societal Context:

The Cold War included tension, fear, and nuclear anxiety.

Peace movements grew among youth, especially in the 1970s–1980s.

Travel across the Iron Curtain was limited, but cultural exchange was symbolically powerful.

Scouting’s Role:

World and European Jamborees emphasized peace, dialogue, and understanding across nations.

Western European Scouts developed partnerships with neutral and non-aligned countries.

Scouting gatherings became living evidence that youth cooperation could cross borders, even when governments could not.

Shared Social Meaning:

Scouting helped:

Foster a European identity of cooperation and peace

Keep personal relationships alive across cultural and political divides

Offer youth a hopeful narrative during a tense era

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Renewals & Re-Legalization of Scouting in Eastern Europe (1989–1991)

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Renewals & Re-Legalization of Scouting in Eastern Europe (1989–1991)

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Eastern Europe: In most Eastern European countries, Scouting was revived in the late 1980s and early 1990s as communist regimes fell.

1968: Czechoslovakia: During the "Prague Spring" period of liberalization, the ban on Scouting was temporarily lifted. However, the ban was reinstated in 1970 following the Soviet-led invasion. The ban was permanently lifted after the Velvet Revolution in 1989.

1989:Poland: The ban imposed by the communist authorities in 1949 was effectively lifted with the end of communist rule in Poland in 1989.

1991: Albania: Scouting was re-established after the collapse of communism in the country.

1993: Czech Republic and Slovakia: Following the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, both new countries saw the continuation and further establishment of Scouting.

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2000–2014 (Globalization, EU expansion & digital beginnings)

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2000–2014 (Globalization, EU expansion & digital beginnings)

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What happened (trends):

EU enlargement and deeper supranational cooperation

Globalization and digital communications growth

The 2008 financial crisis and its social fallout and rising attention to migration and climate issues.

How it affected people & Scouting:

People experienced greater cross-border travel, multicultural encounters, but also new economic insecurities after 2008 that affected employment and youth prospects. Scouting modernized programs (introducing digital tools), engaged in refugee integration and community service, and deepened transnational cooperation through EU youth exchanges and joint projects.

For many families Scouting became a practical route to social integration for migrant children and a civic outlet for young people facing uncertainty internationally. Scout organizations pooled resources and expertise across borders to respond to inequality, migration and environmental education.

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EU Enlargement, Mobility & Transnational Community Building

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EU Enlargement, Mobility & Transnational Community Building

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Societal Change:

From 2004 to 2013, many new countries joined the European Union, opening borders and enabling easier travel, study, and work across Europe. Young people encountered more multicultural environments — in schools, communities, and youth organizations. At the same time, the 2008 financial crisis increased unemployment and insecurity, especially among younger generations.

Scouting’s Response:

Because Scouting already had international traditions, it became a practical space where European integration was lived out. Scouts and Guides:

Participated in cross-border camps and exchanges

Held European Jamborees emphasizing unity and cooperation

Reconnected Eastern and Western European scout associations after Cold War separation

Encouraged intercultural learning and respect among youth.

Shared Social Meaning:

For many families and young people:

Scouting offered stable community during economic uncertainty

It became a pathway for migrant youth to belong in new societies

Youth learned to see themselves not just as national citizens, but also as European collaborators

In short, Scouting helped turn political enlargement into real social connection.

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Digital Communication Growth & Cultural Modernization

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Digital Communication Growth & Cultural Modernization

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Societal Change:

Between 2000 and 2014, everyday life shifted:

Internet access expanded rapidly

Mobile phones became universal

Early social media shaped how young people socialized and formed identity

This changed how youth spent free time — moving some activities indoors and online.

Scouting’s Response:

To remain relevant and meaningful, Scouting began modernizing its program:

Introduced digital literacy, STEM, media awareness, and communication badges

Balanced technology with traditional outdoor and community-focused activities

Used digital tools to organize groups, share activities, and stay connected

Emphasized teamwork, leadership, and real-life social interaction to counterbalance online isolation.

The event Jamboree on the Internet (JOTI) (the Internet-part of the joint JOTA‑JOTI) was officially a international event in the beginning of 1996.

JOTI is an annual event where Scouts and Guides connect globally over the internet (alongside its radio counterpart, JOTA).

Why it matters for digital growth is because it leverages new communication technologies (chat, e-mail, VOIP) to bring youth from many countries together virtually.

It exemplifies how the scouting movement adapted to digital culture: using online tools to foster international friendship, cultural exchange and global citizenship.

Because of JOTI, Scouts didn’t just meet in person—they also met in virtual spaces, reflecting how young people’s social worlds were expanding online.

How it links to modernization:

It helped integrate digital literacy into scouting: participants learned to use internet tools, follow global conversations, and engage with peers across borders.

It reflects the broader shift (2000-2014) when youth organisations began blending traditional face-to-face activities with digital communication and media.

It opened new possibilities: Scouts could participate without travel, lowering barriers and making international connection more accessible.

Shared Social Meaning:

Scouting became a counter-space to digital overload:

A place where young people could both use technology responsibly and experience real-world teamwork

A setting where identity, confidence, and belonging grew face-to-face — not just online

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2015–2025 (Crises, digital acceleration & pandemic)

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2015–2025 (Crises, digital acceleration & pandemic)

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What happened (trends):

Large migration flows and refugee crises (mid-2010s)

COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2022)

Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

How it affected people & Scouting:

Families and communities faced health shocks, humanitarian pressure, and polarized politics. Scouting responded on multiple fronts:

Mobilizing cross-border humanitarian aid and refugee integration efforts and focusing programmatically on climate action, mental-health support and inclusion.

Operationally shifting to online and hybrid programming during COVID while delivering local volunteering and pandemic support.

In Europe, Scouting remained a transnational network capable of rapid, grassroots responses to humanitarian and social crises.

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It show young people and scout-volunteers together with refugee children or in welcoming settings, showing integration and social inclusion.

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2010s - onward—Refugee Arrivals & Social Integration Efforts 

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2010s - onward—Refugee Arrivals & Social Integration Efforts 

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Point:

Mass migration into Europe as a result of the wars in Syria and the larger Middle East changed communities and sparked discussions about solidarity, integration, and identity. In addition to increasing cultural variety, young people in Europe also had to deal with growing political conflict.

In response, Scouting developed as a force for bridging gaps in civic society:

Including immigrant children in local events, camps, and Scout organizations.

Creating community-building initiatives without "us vs. them" divides. Using its global character to promote intercultural respect and understanding.

Scouting provided a secure environment for play, healing, and belonging for young refugees.

Transnational angle:

Scouting's function as a global social integrator, uniting people from different backgrounds by common principles rather than nationality, was brought to light by the refugee response.

The movement overcame political and cultural barriers by basing inclusion initiatives on the global Scouting identity, exemplifying grassroots cosmopolitanism in action.

Compared to governmental or institutional actors, Scouting was able to address migration issues more adaptably due to its youth-led, non-political structure.

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It depict scout units using digital tools (video calls, online badges, home-based activities) during lockdowns.

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2020-2022—COVID-19 Pandemic & the Shift to Online Scouting 

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2020-2022—COVID-19 Pandemic & the Shift to Online Scouting 

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Point:

Lockdowns disrupted schools, social life, and youth mental health. Families faced health stress, isolation, and uncertainty. Digital communication became the main way to stay connected.

Scouting rapidly adapted its entire method:

Meetings, badge work, patrol check-ins and even campfires moved online.

JOTA JOTI, online jamborees, and virtual camps expanded massively.

Scout groups organized local pandemic aid, such as:

Food and medicine delivery for the elderly

Sewing masks and distributing protective gear

Supporting community organizations under pressure.

Transnational angle:

Scouting reaffirmed its position as a transnational community of care as well as an educational organization by evolving into a mental health and social support network.

The pandemic experience demonstrated how Scouting's values of service, flexibility, and fellowship still bring young people together throughout the world, especially during isolated times.

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It reflect scouting’s transnational network in action: coordination across European scout organisations helping Ukraine-related displacement.

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2022 - present—Ukraine War & Cross-Border Humanitarian Scouting Networks

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2022 - present—Ukraine War & Cross-Border Humanitarian Scouting Networks

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Point:

Millions of refugees entered European nations as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Societies around Europe organized humanitarian aid at various levels, from national coordination to grassroots campaigns.

Scouting groups quickly mobilized their international networks to offer assistance.

Scouts in Romania, Moldova, Slovakia, Poland, Czechia, Germany, and other nations.

Young volunteers led a quick and adaptable humanitarian response because to Scouting's decentralized structure.

Transnational angle:

It is a prime example of European unity, as Scouts from many countries worked together to promote common civic and humanitarian ideals.

Scouting bridged the gap between direct relief efforts and civic society as a non-state player in international humanitarianism.

Scouting's position as a unifying factor during times of conflict was reinforced by the movement's emphasis on service, empathy, and inclusiveness, which cut across national boundaries.