Education and Citizenship in Modern and Contemporary Political Thought

Catalog description

In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in civic education among political theorists, politicians, and educators, with most insisting that we need to devote more time and resources to preparing students for citizenship. Yet, there are significant disagreements over what students should learn and what end(s) this learning should serve. This course will examine perennial debates at the intersection of education and citizenship in modern and contemporary political thought. What knowledge, capacities, and dispositions are necessary for citizenship in liberal democracies? How should they be taught and by whom? What is the proper distribution of educational authority between parents, children, and the state? Should civic education promote “patriotism?” What are the effects of socio-economic inequality on civic education and citizenship? How do the philosophical, economic, and political views of various thinkers influence their approaches to education for citizenship?