Citizenship Education and Lifelong Learning

Across the globe citizenship education is high on the reform agendas of policy makers and educators. The collapse of the Soviet Union and the entry of former Soviet bloc states into the European Union, the fragmentation of the former Yugoslavia, the major population movements from poor to rich countries, and the increased threats of international terrorism and civil wars in many states have all added to the need to provide up-dated and reflective approaches to citizenship education. Within nation states, the impact of globalisation on social, economic and political structures has caused power shifts across and within international borders demanding greater citizenship awareness and participation. The effect of these changes and the practice and needs of citizenship are profoundly affected by the distinctive particulars of the places in which they occur. This is an essential ingredient in any understanding of what is happening and of any program addressing the resulting citizenship challenges. Too often, citizenship education has been perceived simply as a matter for schools. In this book, the discussion is extended to embrace post-school education. It is acknowledged that the educational needs of adults are no less pressing those of young people. Following an examination of key concepts, each chapter focuses on a separate country. A deliberate attempt has been made to select a diverse range of national examples drawn from round the globe. Citizenship education, defined in formal and informal educational contexts, and lifelong learning, defined as education from the cradle to the grave, are shown in this volume to be contested concepts with their place contexts central to their understanding.