Mock Elections in Civic Education: A Space for Critical Democratic Citizenship Development
Purpose: Preparing citizens for participation in pluralist democracies also requires a type of citizenship education that fosters critical democratic citizenship (CDC). This study inquires into an educational activity with a long history in many EU-countries: mock elections. It explores the extent t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | deu |
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Bielefeld University
2017-09-01
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| Series: | Journal of Social Science Education |
| Online Access: | http://www.jsse.org/index.php/jsse/article/view/845 |
| _version_ | 1818833199397076992 |
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| author | Isolde De Groot |
| author_facet | Isolde De Groot |
| author_sort | Isolde De Groot |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose: Preparing citizens for participation in pluralist democracies also requires a type of citizenship education that fosters critical democratic citizenship (CDC). This study inquires into an educational activity with a long history in many EU-countries: mock elections. It explores the extent to which elements of CDC-literacy, competences and identity are commonly fostered in education related to mock elections in the Netherlands, and teacher rationales in this regard.
Methodology: A qualitative study was conducted. Data from semi-structured interviews with teachers from eight schools were analysed using thematic analysis.
Findings and implications: Data analysis revealed an emphasis on offering a participatory experience. Five elements of critical democratic citizenship were commonly advanced in mock election related education in these schools. Teacher narratives also revealed how teachers had different understandings about political identity and their role in advancing identity development. Findings suggest that there is ample opportunity to intensify attention to CDC-development in education related to mock elections in Dutch schools. Further research into students’ political identity development processes during political simulations in different political and educational contexts is required to further academic debate about desirable support by teachers and governments in high-quality political education projects |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T02:15:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-041b4d0e09fa461ca8e1f9bd89325acd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1618-5293 |
| language | deu |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T02:15:08Z |
| publishDate | 2017-09-01 |
| publisher | Bielefeld University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Social Science Education |
| spelling | doaj.art-041b4d0e09fa461ca8e1f9bd89325acd2022-12-21T20:40:26ZdeuBielefeld UniversityJournal of Social Science Education1618-52932017-09-0116310.4119/jsse-845Mock Elections in Civic Education: A Space for Critical Democratic Citizenship DevelopmentIsolde De Groot0University of Humanistic StudiesPurpose: Preparing citizens for participation in pluralist democracies also requires a type of citizenship education that fosters critical democratic citizenship (CDC). This study inquires into an educational activity with a long history in many EU-countries: mock elections. It explores the extent to which elements of CDC-literacy, competences and identity are commonly fostered in education related to mock elections in the Netherlands, and teacher rationales in this regard. Methodology: A qualitative study was conducted. Data from semi-structured interviews with teachers from eight schools were analysed using thematic analysis. Findings and implications: Data analysis revealed an emphasis on offering a participatory experience. Five elements of critical democratic citizenship were commonly advanced in mock election related education in these schools. Teacher narratives also revealed how teachers had different understandings about political identity and their role in advancing identity development. Findings suggest that there is ample opportunity to intensify attention to CDC-development in education related to mock elections in Dutch schools. Further research into students’ political identity development processes during political simulations in different political and educational contexts is required to further academic debate about desirable support by teachers and governments in high-quality political education projectshttp://www.jsse.org/index.php/jsse/article/view/845 |
| spellingShingle | Isolde De Groot Mock Elections in Civic Education: A Space for Critical Democratic Citizenship Development Journal of Social Science Education |
| title | Mock Elections in Civic Education: A Space for Critical Democratic Citizenship Development |
| title_full | Mock Elections in Civic Education: A Space for Critical Democratic Citizenship Development |
| title_fullStr | Mock Elections in Civic Education: A Space for Critical Democratic Citizenship Development |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mock Elections in Civic Education: A Space for Critical Democratic Citizenship Development |
| title_short | Mock Elections in Civic Education: A Space for Critical Democratic Citizenship Development |
| title_sort | mock elections in civic education a space for critical democratic citizenship development |
| url | http://www.jsse.org/index.php/jsse/article/view/845 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT isoldedegroot mockelectionsinciviceducationaspaceforcriticaldemocraticcitizenshipdevelopment |