3 Polarizing the Curriculum: Culture Wars about Citizenship and Civic Education
-
Andrea Szukala
Abstract
The chapter examines the rise of cultural conflicts over citizenship and civic education in Central and Eastern Europe, driven by political polarization and populist movements. It highlights how curricula have become arenas for debates on national identity, history, and social values, with state and international actors influencing these dynamics. The chapter argues that civic education is not just about promoting democratic engagement but also about shaping national narratives and regulating social belonging. Through a curriculum-sociological lens, the text explores how ‘epistemic conflicts’ in education can lead to inclusion or exclusion, depending on how histories and identities are represented.
Abstract
The chapter examines the rise of cultural conflicts over citizenship and civic education in Central and Eastern Europe, driven by political polarization and populist movements. It highlights how curricula have become arenas for debates on national identity, history, and social values, with state and international actors influencing these dynamics. The chapter argues that civic education is not just about promoting democratic engagement but also about shaping national narratives and regulating social belonging. Through a curriculum-sociological lens, the text explores how ‘epistemic conflicts’ in education can lead to inclusion or exclusion, depending on how histories and identities are represented.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- Series Editor’s Preface vii
- List of Figures and Tables ix
- Notes on Contributors x
- Approaching Citizenship in Central and Eastern Europe 1
- Theorizing Citizenship Practices in Europe 18
- Polarizing the Curriculum: Culture Wars about Citizenship and Civic Education 43
- European Parliament Elections in East Central Europe: Participation, Eurosceptic Voting, and Perceptions of Young People 64
- Long-Distance Citizenship in East Central and Eastern Europe 89
- Digital Technologies and Citizen Agency During Crises: Democratic Engagement in Ukraine and Belarus 109
- Civic Digital Participation for Rural Development: Lessons from a German Survey of LEADER Regions 138
- Being or Becoming Political? Performative Citizenship in Central and Eastern Europe 158
- Participation Disempowered: Polish Participatory Budgeting and a Missed Chance for Citizen Empowerment 180
- Attitudes of German Youth Regarding the War in Ukraine 204
- Concepts of Citizenship in the Educational Materials of the EU and the Council of Europe 221
- Citizenship Education in Central and Eastern Europe: Perspectives and Desiderata of Transnationally Networked NGOs 241
- The Politics of Civic Education in the Post-Yugoslav Region 257
- Charting Paths Forward for Citizenship in Central and Eastern Europe 279
- Index 292
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- Series Editor’s Preface vii
- List of Figures and Tables ix
- Notes on Contributors x
- Approaching Citizenship in Central and Eastern Europe 1
- Theorizing Citizenship Practices in Europe 18
- Polarizing the Curriculum: Culture Wars about Citizenship and Civic Education 43
- European Parliament Elections in East Central Europe: Participation, Eurosceptic Voting, and Perceptions of Young People 64
- Long-Distance Citizenship in East Central and Eastern Europe 89
- Digital Technologies and Citizen Agency During Crises: Democratic Engagement in Ukraine and Belarus 109
- Civic Digital Participation for Rural Development: Lessons from a German Survey of LEADER Regions 138
- Being or Becoming Political? Performative Citizenship in Central and Eastern Europe 158
- Participation Disempowered: Polish Participatory Budgeting and a Missed Chance for Citizen Empowerment 180
- Attitudes of German Youth Regarding the War in Ukraine 204
- Concepts of Citizenship in the Educational Materials of the EU and the Council of Europe 221
- Citizenship Education in Central and Eastern Europe: Perspectives and Desiderata of Transnationally Networked NGOs 241
- The Politics of Civic Education in the Post-Yugoslav Region 257
- Charting Paths Forward for Citizenship in Central and Eastern Europe 279
- Index 292
