Should patriotism be taught in state schools?

Buntić, Clare Gordon (2017). Should patriotism be taught in state schools? University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

Preview

Buntic17PhD.pdf
PDF - Accepted Version
Download (1MB)

Abstract

The teaching of progressive patriotism, as an inclusive, open-ended and interpretive project, is needed in state schooling to counter significant threats to modern liberal democracies. This thesis argues that various forms of civic education, with a particular focus on England over recent decades, have not been adequate. It is argued here that these conceptions of civic education have all, in various ways, failed to provide enough vital force to engage the young in our increasingly complex and demanding plural democracies. An important affective dimension has been missing. Recent civic education has also failed to be sufficiently liberal by promoting an exclusive sense of national solidarity. It is argued here that these failures need to be addressed given the levels of informed, critical democratic engagement needed in our complex modern democracies and the real and growing threats they face. For example, our increasingly diverse and unequal liberal societies, operating within an era of globalisation, have spawned a rise in chauvinistic and emotionally potent conceptions of exclusive national identity. What is needed to counter this threat is a conception of patriotic education that adheres to liberal principles whilst developing affective affiliation to the country through a liberal, multicultural, democratic national building project.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):