Impact of civic & cultural education on social cohesionBryony Hoskins, LLAKES, Institute of Education,

University of London

Impact of civic education on social cohesion

1. What is social cohesion and what type of social cohesion does Europe want?

2. What attitudes and behaviours of individual citizens are required to achieve this?

3. Which pedagogical approaches deliver these results?

What is social cohesion?

The property by which whole societies, and the individuals within them, are bound together through the action of specific attitudes, behaviours, rules and institutions

(Green, Janmaat and Han 2009 p.20)

Social cohesion is the capacity of a society to ensure the well-being of all its members, minimising disparities and avoiding marginalisation

(Council of Europe high-level task force 2009)

Inclusion agenda

(2009 ET 2020 and 2009 EU 2020 staff working paper)

Different types of Social Cohesion in Europe

Liberal (typically associated with the UK and Ireland)

Social market (typically associated with France, Germany, Austria)

Social democracy (typically associated with Nordic countries)

South and east Europe?

Pressure points

•Marginalisation Inequalities of wealthMigration

Climate change

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Alienation

Moving towards a European ideal of social cohesion

How to get to where Europe wants to be?

1) Through institutions and rules that favour a fairer, more democratic and inclusive society

2) Through citizens attitudes, values and behaviour

Values and Behaviour: Active Citizenship

• ‘Participation in civil society, community and/or political life, characterised by mutual respect and non-violence and in accordance with human rights and democracy’ (Hoskins 2006).

Active Citizenship Composite Indicator

Rank Points Country1 766 Norway2 755 Sweden3 641 Denmark4 632 Austria5 559 Ireland6 557 Belgium7 555 Netherlands8 543 Luxemburg9 533 Germany10 483 United Kingdom11 452 Finland12 371 France13 347 Slovenia14 298 Spain15 266 Portugal16 260 Italy17 226 Poland18 205 Greece19 171 Hungary

How does active citizenship interrelate with social cohesion?

Representative democracy and protest • Legitimise and accountability• Bringing in marginal voices

Values:• Solidarity – sustainable development • Tolerance • Fairness

Pedagogy

Large scale quantitative study across 5 EU countries (England, Germany, Finland, Italy and Poland) based on IEA CIVED 1999 data on the learning of civic competence.

Used a framework for analysis ‘Communities of Practice’

Results• Similar results across all countries• Meaning making crucial for developing civic

competence

Meaning making activities

• Situated in a relevant environment

• learning is led by the interest of the learner

• It builds on positive learning relationships and role models

– peers and family members useful resource

• Individuals feel able to give their opinion even if it contradicts others in the group

Conclusion

• Highlight mechanism involved in social cohesion

• Identify behaviour and attitudes : Active Citizenship

• Identified pedagogical approach

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