Decentralisation policy in Sweden emphasises school capitation allowance, the local upper secondary schools' decision-making and pupils' choices in contrast to previous bureaucratic governing. The aim of this article is to discuss how pupils' educational choice paths are a part of the different kinds of integration and differentiation processes…

This student survey was a response to the French youth unrest in 2005 and 2006. It considers the degree to which French higher and secondary education institutions create social cohesion. Focusing on three distinct higher-education institutions: "L'institut d'etudes politiques de Paris" (Sciences Po), "Ecole Normale…

Today it can be said with full justification that there is a social mandate to educate the kind of individual who is well trained for the needs of the present day, who is moral, resourceful, and prepared to make decisions in any situation, who is capable of cooperation and intercultural interaction, and who possesses a sense of responsibility for…

This paper discusses civil society as a central idea in the recent global resurgence of democracy. Recent developments represent a turning away from state-centered conceptions of government, and a renewal of voluntary, community-based, non-governmental organizations as a means of renewing democracy. As civil society has surged globally, it has…

Participation in Service activities can be a vital component to civics and social studies education. The sources selected for this topic ERIC bibliography on civics, social studies, and services are intended to aid practitioners in thinking about the developing service activities in their classrooms, schools, and communities. Divided into three…

After reunification with the People's Republic of China in 1997, Hong Kong was turned into a special administrative region. The new government has repeatedly emphasised the development of national identity and patriotism. One of the locations where these issues might be expected to appear is in the teaching of Government and Public Affairs (GPA),…

Liberal democratic states, like all complex communities, are constantly forced to make hard choices between incommensurable values. In this instance, the choice appears to be between personal freedom and autonomy, on one hand, and civic virtue and good citizenship, on the other. To promote a reasonably high level of civic virtue and good…

Argues the artificial, propagandistic quality of demonizing the enemy, a technique used by both sides in the Persian Gulf War. Asserts that principled and effective foreign policymaking requires intelligence and moral courage, whereas demonizing the enemy requires only a phrase book and the will to injure. (PRA)

The global politics of reconciliation provide a blueprint for postconflict reconstruction projects around the world, including in South Africa, Rwanda, Northern Ireland, and Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H). Of these, the B&H case is of particular interest due to the extensive involvement of some of the world's most powerful states and leading…

The Council for Cultural Cooperation's project "Preparation for Life" proposes radical changes in school curricula to prepare children for the needs of the twenty-first century. One recommendation is that secondary schools help young people accept, preserve, and promote human values, democracy, and human rights. (JN)

This book grew from a working conference on "Citizenship for the 21st Century." The purpose of the conference was to develop specific recommendations to guide the Foundation for Teaching Economics (FTE) and the Constitutional Rights Foundation (CRF) in their efforts to improve civic education for young adolescents. The conferees reached consensus…

Civic education, not so long ago, was regarded as a core purpose of grade school preparation for adulthood, a mandate to educate young people about U.S. history, freedom and values, and citizenship's responsibilities. The landmark 1999 Civic Education Study, conducted by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement,…

This book presents current thinking on the topic of community service programs for youth. Combining theory and research with descriptions of innovative programs and specific recommendations for program design, the volume outlines an approach to service learning that engages youth not only in helping others but also in critical reflection and the…

This guide provides a practical tool for organizing locally-based citizen education programs with information on obtaining helpful resources and tips on making national security issues relevant to the public. The purpose is the make the global have more local application and encourage public discourse on global issues. The volume contains seven…