Education and Cultural Citizenship

This is the first book to offer a global introduction to the major debates in the theory of education. It reflects developments in the social and political theory and introduces theorists such as Bourdieu, Dewey and Habermas.

"Nick Stevenson skilfully draws upon a welter of leading thinkers from the liberal, socialist, critical-theory and multiculturalist canons in developing his argument that leading ideas about education are umbilically tied to notions of the good society. The pluralistic and undogmatic manner in which he sifts these accounts, and his insistence upon the centrality of democratic citizenship, make this a timely and important contribution to current debates about the nature and purpose of schools."
- Michael Kenny, University of Sheffield

"In Education and Cultural Citizenship Nick Stevenson presents a powerful argument concerning how education can and should promote democracy, accompanied by critiques of how all-too-often education fails to do so. Full of strong ideas, arguments, engagement with key thinkers, Stevenson′s book should be of great interest to all concerned with the nexus of democracy and education."
- Douglas Kellner, UCLA

This dynamic book systematically brings together the major developments in the social and political theory of education. It offers a global introduction to the major debates within the field and provides a sustained argument for a democratic and normative view of education.

Nick Stevenson provides a comprehensive view of the major disputes within social, cultural and political approaches to education. Drawing upon varied critical traditions, the book helpfully connects these diverse threads of debate whilst exploring the work of key theorists. Areas explored include:

• democratic notions of education
• cosmopolitanism
• multiculturalism
• pragmaticism
• critical pedagogy
• democratic socialism
• liberalism
• politics of fear.

Clearly written and passionately argued, this book will be essential reading for all those interested in exploring education′s changing place in society.