Citizenship, Diversity and Education: a philosophical perspective

The concept of ‘education for citizenship’ contains a number of ambiguities and tensions, related to differing interpretations of the notion of ‘citizenship’. This paper explores some of the philosophical difficulties which arise from the task of trying to offer a substantial notion of ‘education for citizenship’ in the context of the diversity of a pluralistic democratic society. One of the central areas requiring attention by philosophers is an account of the public civic virtues which are ‘thick’ or substantial enough to satisfy the communal demands of citizenship, yet compatible with liberal demands concerning the development of critical rationality by citizens and satisfaction of the demands of justice relating to diversity. It is suggested that a wide ranging debate about these matters at the national level cannot be avoided if ‘education for citizenship’ is to be conducted defensibly and effectively.