Global Citizenship Education: Challenges and Successes

Citizenship and conceptions of what it means to be a good citizen have evolved, with good citizenship involving living with others in diverse societies and promoting acceptance, human rights, and democracy. However, to compete in the global economy, nations require a more innovative, autonomous, and reflective workforce, leading to conflicting conceptions of good citizenship. Global citizenship education is essential to teaching, learning, and redressing sociopolitical, economic, and environmental exploitation around the world. This collection discusses the underpinnings of global citizenship education via contemporary theories and methodologies, as well as specific case studies that illustrate the application of GCE initiatives.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 344 pages
\n Publication date: 05 March 2021
\n Publisher: University of Toronto Press
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Citizenship is a multifaceted concept that has evolved over time, encompassing both the ability to live harmoniously with others in diverse societies and the active participation in promoting a common set of values such as acceptance, human rights, and democracy. In the context of the global economy, nations require a more innovative, autonomous, and reflective workforce, which necessitates the development of good citizens who can contribute to the economic development of themselves and their countries. However, these competing conceptions of good citizenship can lead to practices that violate human rights and undermine democratic principles.

Global citizenship education (GCE) emerges as a crucial response to these challenges. It seeks to educate individuals about their roles and responsibilities as global citizens, equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to address social, economic, and environmental exploitation around the world. GCE encompasses a wide range of topics, including global politics, international relations, human rights, environmental sustainability, and social justice.

The historical development of GCE has been marked by significant progress and recognition. This field of study has gained traction in post-secondary institutions as educators and learners recognize the importance of understanding the complex interconnectedness of global issues and taking action to promote equitable change.

Global Citizenship Education: Challenges and Successes, a collection of essays by esteemed authors, provides a comprehensive discourse on GCE. The book explores the underpinnings of global citizenship education through contemporary theories and methodologies, while also presenting specific case studies that illustrate the application of GCE initiatives. The editors, Eva Aboagye and S. Nombuso Dlamini, aim to motivate learners and educators in post-secondary institutions to engage with the issues of social and economic inequality, political and civil unrest, and environmental degradation facing us. They encourage them to take action that will lead to equitable change in both local and global spaces.

GCE is particularly relevant in today's interconnected world, where global challenges such as climate change, poverty, inequality, and political instability require collaborative efforts and global solutions. By promoting a sense of global responsibility and fostering cross-cultural understanding, GCE enables individuals to become agents of change and contribute to building a more just and sustainable world.

In conclusion, the idea of citizenship and conceptions of what it means to be a good citizen have evolved over time. Global citizenship education plays a vital role in shaping individuals who can navigate the complexities of the global landscape, promote human rights, and contribute to the economic development of themselves and their countries. Through its comprehensive approach and emphasis on action, GCE empowers learners and educators to become agents of change and work towards building a more equitable and sustainable world.

\n Weight: 686g\n
Dimension: 161 x 236 x 30 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781487506377\n \n