The theme of this journal concerns democracy and citizenship education at universities. An editorial, "The Postmodern Blues" (Bernard Murchland), examines the negative citizen attitudes during the election campaign of Bill Clinton. The five civic education roundtable articles represent two position papers and three responses. The first position paper, "Citizenship Education and the Public World" (Harry C. Boyte), proposes that civic education should be designed to move students to reflect on their lives and careers in ways that allow integration of concerns with larger arenas of governance and policy. The second position paper, "Going to the Community" (Benjamin Barber), looks at the context for a democratic education and the choices for community service. In response to the positions by Boyte and Barber, Craig Rimmerman raises issues of critical education for citizenship and discusses implementation of the approach. Tim Stanton presents three challenges that arise from work as a community organizer. Leslie Hill addresses the issues of power and the nature of the citizen. Following the roundtable articles, "Philanthropy and Liberal Education" (Robert L. Payton), reflects on the place of voluntary action for the public good in a university education. The final article, "The Failure of Community in Higher Education," a back page commentary, (Carole Hamner) emphasizes the divisive atmosphere that results from the ideological encampment of academics and the alarming ramifications for the training of the next generation's citizens. (CK)