Creating Citizens: Political Education and Liberal Democracy(Oxford Political Theory)

Oxford Political Theory presents the best new work in contemporary political theory. It is intended to be broad in scope, including original contributions to political philosophy, and also work in applied political theory. The series contains works of outstanding quality with no restriction as to approach or subject matter. The series editors are Will Kymlicka, David Miller, and Alan Ryan. Any liberal democratic state must honour religious and cultural pluralism in its educational policies. To fail to honour them would betray ideals of freedom and toleration fundamental to liberal democracy. Yet if such ideals are to flourish from one generation to the next, allegiance to the distinctive values of liberal democracy is a necessary educational end, whose pursuit will constrain pluralism. The problem of political education is therefore to ensure the continuity across generations of the constitutive ideals of liberal democracy, while remaining hospitable to a diversity of conduct and belief that sometimes threatens those very ideals. Creating Citizens addresses this crucial problem. In lucid and elegant prose, Professor Callan, one of the world's foremost philosophers of education, identifies both the principal ends of civic education, and the rights that limit their political pursuit. This timely study sheds light on some of the most divisive educational controversies, such as state sponsorship and regulation of denominational schooling, as well as the role of non-denominational schools in the moral and political development of children.

Table of Contents:
1: Education and the Politics of Virtue 2: Pluralism and Political Liberalism 3: Autonomy, Justice, and the Good 4: Justice, Care, and Community 5: Patriotism and Sentimentality 6: The Great Sphere and Rights 7: Common Schools, Separate Schools 8: Virtue, Dialogue, and the Common School 9: Conclusion

Review :
`Review from previous edition This is a very good book...it contains an original interpretation of certain aspects of liberal political philosophy; and it applies some of these insights to the pressing issue of the kind of education that is appropriate for liberal citizenship. Callan is to be commended for applying a sophisticated liberal political philosophy to the difficult and neglected issues of citizenship education. Even when readers disagree with Callan's conclusions, they will benefit from engaging with his argument and analysis.' The Review of Politics `Its argument has obvious relevance to a range of educational settings. Callan's reasoned and dialogical way of writing underpins an honest and disciplined approach to political education in a liberal democracy.' Journal of Moral Education