"The state of the debate": A media analysis of the debates on liberalization and citixenship education in France, Sweden, and England

Summary, in English

Over the last decades, many liberal democracies have experienced a tension between the education system’s expressed requirement to foster citizenship norms and the liberal (sub-) ideal of norm neutrality. This dilemma has been accentuated by, on the one hand, increased ethnical and cultural diversity, and, on the other hand, liberalization of society in general and the schooling system in particular. This article provides a “state of the debate” of this tension in France, Sweden and England, through a media analysis of the period 2001-2010. Citizenship education was most prominent in the Swedish debate. The Swedish and English positions were most alike, arguing for “objective civics” and promoting freedom of choice in the school system. In contrast, the French debate argued for a common, integrative state-managed school system that provides equal opportunities to all socio-economic groups while inculcating loyalty to the State.

• Author: Isabelle Coté; Malena Rosén Sundström; Anders Sannerstedt
• Department/s: Department of Political Science
• Publishing year: 2013
• Language: English
• Pages: 215-228
• Publication/Series: Education, Citizenship and Social Justice
• Volume: 8
• Issue: 2
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Topic: Political Science
• Keywords: England; Sweden; France; media debate; liberalization; Citizenship education
• Status: Published
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 1746-1987