Democracy is not only a system of government, but also an overarching way of living together. It is through the social structures we live in and the resulting social relations, behaviors, and norms emanating from those structures, that we learn how to live together, democratically or otherwise. Adult education can promote the learning of democracy…

Inclusive education is key to the development of civic democracy. Its role is to transform schools into platforms of excellence and equality for all students. This literature review aims to summarize the current state of inclusive education in Eastern European countries and former Soviet states and to identify conditions necessary for their…

The Kettering Foundation is a nonprofit, operating foundation rooted in the American tradition of cooperative research. Kettering's research is distinctive because it is conducted from the perspective of citizens and focuses on what people can do collectively to address problems affecting their lives, their communities, and their nation. The…

The article analyzes the latest steps taken by Russian authorities in reforming the system of education, and substantiates society's strongly felt need for the reforms to be liberated from bureaucratic dictatorship and secrecy. It demonstrates the close connection between the reform of education and the rapidly dropping quality of education,…

This book explores the interrelationship between ideology, the state, and education reforms, placing it in a global context. It examines some of the major education reforms and policy issues in a global culture, particularly in light of recent shifts in quality and standards-driven education, and policy research. The book critiques the neo-liberal…

In the article on the basis of the psycholinguistic experimental data obtained in 2009-2010 from Russian and Swedish students, we consider internal features of several complex values ("Harmony", "Freedom", "Democracy", "Tolerance" and "Patriotism") and analyze their external systemic organization,…

In this article, the authors propose that a comparative analysis of the political values of societies that have a developing democracy and societies that have existed for a considerable length of time under the conditions of a democratic regime will make it possible to discern differences in the correlation of political values that are…

Despite the increased trend towards secularisation in state schooling, issues of religion and spirituality have remained important. Increased pluralism within societies through expanding migration patterns is changing the religious and cultural contours of many countries in Europe and North America, and is creating a need for a deeper…

In the European context Active Citizenship has been promoted within the education and training Lisbon Strategy as a tool to support the continuation of democracy, human rights and greater social inclusion. In this article the authors analyse the impact of education on Active Citizenship and contribute to the existing debates relating to education…

This long-awaited synthesis approaches the past three centuries with an eye to highlighting the importance of significant schools, as well as important women educators in the emergence of secondary education for girls. At the same time, each contributor pays careful attention to the specific political, cultural, and socio-economic factors that…

The Spirit of Democracy Project was initiated in 2000 by the University of New Brunswick (Canada) Faculty of Education in partnership with the Russian Association for Civic Education, and was made possible through financial contribution from the Canadian International Development Agency. The focus of the Project is the development of online…

Considers the influence of the Iroquois Great Law of Peace in American government and its possible influence on Russian government. Discusses history of Iroquois society and describes their form of representative democracy. Cites references to Iroquois government and law by Karl Marx, Frederick Engels, and Benjamin Franklin. (JHZ)

This theme issue of "The International Journal of Social Education" contains 11 articles all concerned with efforts to promote civic education in post-communist countries, particularly former Soviet-Bloc nations, including Latvia, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Russia. Described are international partnerships for civic…

Examined how British, South African, and Russian faculty view the relationships between their teaching and their understandings of its democratic purposes. Found a concern for greater equality between teachers and learners, and a widely held view that globalization may negatively impact lecturers' educational and democratic purposes. However, the…

The increasing ethnic, racial, cultural, religious, and language diversity in nations throughout the world is forcing educators and policymakers to rethink existing notions of citizenship and nationality. To experience cultural democracy and freedom, a nation must be unified around a set of democratic values such as justice and equality that…