“Covert No-Saying”: A Framework of Democratic Education in Illiberal Democracies

• In Event: Democracy and Ethics

Abstract

In illiberal democracies, democratic education encounters substantial challenges, including censorship, repression, and the fear of punishment. This situation is particularly concerning for civic educators whose mission includes teaching students the importance of dissent as a fundamental right and responsibility of citizenship. In this article, I propose a framework that distinguishes between yes-saying, drastic no-saying, and covert no-saying to articulate a nuanced yet powerful form of resistance to the constraints imposed by illiberal democracies. By theoretically framing covert no-saying and exploring various pedagogical strategies for its implementation in the classroom, I aim to equip civic educators with practical tools to foster critical reflection and strategic resistance among students.

Author

• Jason Cong Lin, The Education University of Hong Kong