The Practice of Equality: A Critical Understanding of Democratic Citizenship Education

Authors

Claudia W. Ruitenberg, University of British ColumbiaFollow

Abstract

This essay proposes a conception of citizenship that highlights its political aspects. Based on the work of Balibar, Rancière, and Biesta, it is argued that democratic citizenship education must include the education of equality. This means that students must have the opportunity to experience not only the membership aspect of citizenship that subjects them to the state but also the democratic aspect of citizenship that positions them as equals to each other and capable of political intervention. The increasing emphasis in state policies on the membership aspect of citizenship must be counterbalanced by an emphasis in education on the democratic aspect of citizenship: the education of equality. The proposed conception of citizenship can be used to evaluate approaches to citizenship education.

Response to this Article

Michelanos Zembylas, Exploring the Implications of Citizenship-as-Equality in Critical Citizenship Education

Recommended Citation

Ruitenberg, C. W. (2015). The Practice of Equality: A Critical Understanding of Democratic Citizenship Education. Democracy and Education, 23 (1), Article 2.
Available at: https://democracyeducationjournal.org/home/vol23/iss1/2