Building the World Movement for Democracy
Inaugural World Assembly
February 14-17, 1999
New Delhi, India
Civic Education & Democracy
Workshop Leaders: Joe Davis and Krzysztof Stanowski
Condensed from report by Krzysztof Stanowski
The workshop was an opportunity for exchanging ideas and for teaching methods on and approaches to explaining democracy. It also provided an excellent forum for discussing the work of CIVITAS International as a global movement for civic education for democracy.
The workshop attracted more than 60 participants. The training team was selected by CIVITAS International, and represented diverse training approaches and experiences. The CIVITAS team included civic educators from Russia, Philippines, Poland, Hungary, Argentina, Nigeria, Uzbekistan, and the United States. In addition to conducting demonstration lessons, the team members related aspects of introducing democracy education in the most difficult circumstances: in Uzbekistan, where the word democracy could not be openly used; in Russia, where teachers had been trained as propagandists, not civic educators; in the Philippines, where civic education was being used to educate the police and military, who had extraordinary powers under martial law.
The workshop addressed five main areas:
- A presentation on the work of CIVITAS International, an international consortium for civic education,which aims to strengthen effective education for informed and responsible citizenship in new and established democracies around the world. The global NGO is based in Strasbourg, France, and is comprised of individuals, NGOs, governmental institutions, and international organizations active in education for democracy programs around the world. CIVITAS works to maintain a worldwide network to bring the knowledge, skill and experience of education for democracy to bear on the momentous tasks that confront today's democracies.
- An analysis of the knowledge, skills, and values that are essential for citizenship participation in established and emerging democracies. The analysis was done through an interactive exercise that also demonstrated the class of teaching methods required for effective civic education.
- An example of a teaching strategy that can be used in teaching civic education for democracy in and outside schools. The participants were asked to role-play a debate on offering amnesty to a former dictator in exchange for his support to transfer power to civilian rule.
- A panel discussion presented as a radio talk show to exchange experiences and ideas on teaching democracy under difficult circumstances. This segment allowed for active exchange between the audience and the panelists.
- Active discussion focusing on ways in which civic educators and democracy activists can collaborate in building a worldwide movement for democracy.
- Increase and encourage cooperation, exchange and mutual support among existing international networks committed to supporting democracy around the world. A promising example of cooperation is the participation of organizations such as CIVITAS International and Transparency International in the New Delhi conference.
- Develop a "democracy index" listing signposts of democracy which will allow citizens to monitor a country's progress in democratization.
- Support developing materials to be used in democracy education for illiterate communities or communities which are not based on a "print" culture. Possibly develop democracy education materials that can be distributed via local cable TV or on video tapes.
- Support exchange of methods, ideas and materials developed locally in national languages and promote best practices internationally.
Proposed initiatives:
Increase and encourage cooperation, exchange and mutual support among existing international networks committed to supporting democracy around the world. A promising example of cooperation is the participation of organization s such as CIVITAS International and Transparency International in the New Delhi conference.
Develop a "democracy index" listing signposts of democracy which will allow citizens to monitor a country's progress in democratization.
Support developing materials to be used in democracy education for illiterate communities or communities which are not based on a "print" culture. Possiblyy develop democracy education materials that can be distributed via local cable TV or on video tapes.
Support exchange of methods, ideas and materials developed locally in national languages and promote best practices internationally.
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