Education for Diversity, Citizenship, and Human Rights in the Middle East

Session Type: Symposium

Abstract

This panel brings together researchers working in Lebanon, Iraq-Kurdistan and Turkey who aim to influence innovation in practice and policy for citizenship education. The broader Middle East in 2013 saw demands for greater democracy and human rights played out in street demonstrations and even civil war. Across the region governments recognise the potential of citizenship education and human rights education (HRE) to contribute to democratisation and development by developing skills for learning to live together. The researchers are both actors in and critical observers of the reforms. They report on developing methodologies and strategies to challenge top down reform and involve stakeholders in developing new approaches to citizenship education in the context of diversity, political turbulence and conservative social forces.

Sub Unit

• SIG-Social Studies Research

Chair

• Carole L. Hahn, Emory University

Papers

• Education for Human Rights and Citizenship in Kurdistan-Iraq - Audrey Helen Osler, Buskerud and Vestfold University College, Norway

• Education for Citizenship and Human Rights in Turkey - Kenan Cayir, Instanbul Bilgi University

• E.U./Lebanese Cooperation in Citizenship Education: Developing New Approaches to the Curriculum - Hugh Starkey, UCL Institute of Education - London

• Capturing Visions of a New Citizenship Education Curriculum: Consulting Stakeholders in Lebanon - Maha Shuayb, Center for Lebanese Studies; Bassel Akar, Notre Dame University, Louaize

Discussant

• David T. Hansen, Teachers College, Columbia University