Civic Education and Restoring Faith in Democracy: Towards a Pedagogy of Hope

• In Event: Which Pedagogies Lead to Engagement?

Abstract

As Political Scientists, we are uniquely positioned to teach our students about the functions of democracy, the perils of democratic backsliding, and the factors that support democratization or authoritarianism. Understanding these issues at an intellectual level, however, does not guarantee that students will become civically engaged or politically active. I suggest that a major obstacle to political participation among young people is not only lack of knowledge or even apathy, but rather lack of hope. Many educated young people, like the students in our classrooms, are acutely aware of major issues confronting them, from the global environmental crisis to the retrenchment of democracy. The more they learn about it, the more the problems may seem overwhelming, and rather than being inspired to act, students may end up demoralized into inaction. In order to counter this potential drawback and foster civic education, I propose that Political Scientists adopt a pedagogy of hope. Such an approach aims to inform, inspire and motivate. This involves paying closer attention to theories that underline human agency, including success stories among the cases studied, and encouraging students to explore potential avenues for activism in their own communities. A pedagogy of hope also underlines the importance of inclusive syllabi.

Author

• Ioana Emy Matesan, Wesleyan University