A rear-view mirror approach indicates that citizenship education and adult learning and education (ALE) for lifelong learning have been prominent throughout history, dating back to the League of Nations and continuing through the United Nations and UNESCO. The League of Nations was founded in 1920 after World War I when humanity realized that…

Democracy is not only a system of government, but also an overarching way of living together. It is through the social structures we live in and the resulting social relations, behaviors, and norms emanating from those structures, that we learn how to live together, democratically or otherwise. Adult education can promote the learning of democracy…

Honoring the voices needing to be heard, the research investigated the lived experiences of six Syrian Muslim refugee women who resettled in the United States after the 2011 Syrian War. Data analysis was informed by qualitative research methodology and narrative inquiry. The stories of Syrian women in this study highlight the complexities of…

This study examines the motivations of refugee-background adults in participating in English language classes in the United States. Five focus group discussions were held with refugee-background adults with no or very limited English proficiency who were enrolled in an English language program in an urban area in the Northeastern region of the…

This study explored the use of critical reflection blogs to integrate civic-mindedness into an executive education program at a large public university in the south Atlantic region of the United States. Although there is a robust literature on the use of blogs for critical reflection in degree programs, far less attention has been given to…

This article analyzes the participation of civil society in the Sixth International Conference on Adult Education held in Belem do Para, Brazil, 1-4 December 2009. As a foundation, the discussion first illuminates the important role that civil society in general plays in democratic issues and the relation between the state and society followed by…

Teaching about the U.S. Constitution must enable students to appreciate the meaning of the U.S. system of government and civil liberties. Many methods beyond rote memorization are available to ensure that adults understand their rights and responsibilities as citizens. (SK)

Study circles such as the National Issues Forums encourage members to reflect upon and discuss community and social issues and foster reasoned advocacy and informed choices. (SK)

The Police Neighborhood Resource Center is a collaboration among police, educators, and social services to accomplish crime reduction in high-risk areas. Residents increase problem-solving skills and community-police relations improve. (SK)

Refugee women frequently are successful advocates due to such traits as intuition, courage, perseverance, and maternal instinct. Cultural adjustment skills and opportunities for citizenship training also contribute to their success as advocates. (SK)

Public affairs education must help generate mutual understanding of all sides of an issue. Balance or fairness may be a better standard than either end of the education versus advocacy debate. (SK)